2025 OVCR Holiday Schedule
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The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) will observe the UIC reduced service schedule for non-essential services during the upcoming holiday season. Please see the dates and times below for each of our OVCR offices to plan for these adjusted hours.
Biologic Resources Laboratory (BRL)
The Biologic Resources Laboratory (BRL) facility will operate on a limited schedule for essential services during non-observed university holidays beginning Wednesday, December 24. The BRL Business Office will close at 4 PM on Tuesday, December 23 and reopen at 8 AM on Friday, January 2, 2026.
Animal orders received prior to Tuesday, December 23, at 2 PM will be placed the same day. Orders submitted after the 2 PM deadline will be placed on Friday, January 2. Animal deliveries will be accepted through Monday, December 22, and resume on Monday, January 5, 2026. Please note this schedule does not affect the animal service areas, diagnostic laboratory and surgery service, which always maintain normal operating hours with an essential services unit schedule.
Office of Animal Care and Institutional Biosafety (OACIB)
The Office of Animal Care and Institutional Biosafety (OACIB), serving the Animal Care and Institutional Biosafety Committees (ACC/IBC), will close at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 and reopen at 8:30 AM on Friday, January 2, 2026. Submissions for ACC and IBC modifications eligible for review will be reviewed in January 2026.
Office for the Protection of Research Subjects (OPRS)
The Office for the Protection of Research Subjects will close at 5 PM on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 and reopen at 8:30 AM on Friday, January 2, 2026. UIC Research submissions will not undergo review during the reduced service period.
To prevent a lapse in IRB approval, please submit your continuing review(s) via UIC Research at least four weeks ahead of the expiration date. This is especially important for any protocols that will expire during the reduced service period of December 24, 2025, to January 1, 2026. Requests for emergency use of an investigational drug or device will continue to be accepted during the reduced service period. Please submit your request via the UIC IRB listserv in the event of an emergency use request
Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)
The Office of Sponsored Programs will close at 5 PM on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 and reopen at 8:30 AM on Friday, January 2, 2026. Please submit any necessary administrative work such as proposals, documents and reports requiring institutional endorsement, new or amended contracts and cost-related information for reporting and billing purposes no later than 5 PM Tuesday, December 16. This will ensure timely review and processing of sponsored project documents that are due prior to Friday, January 2, 2026.
Research Resources Center (RRC)
The Research Resources Center will close at 5 PM on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 and reopen for normal business hours on Friday, January 2, 2026. Please note that some RRC core facilities may continue some operational capacity during the holiday period. Please see the RRC website for individual core schedules.
Thank you for everything you do to make our research programs successful! We wish you and your families a healthy and happy holiday season.
Joanna Groden, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Research