Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
Our boilerplates and sample text for selected application sections may be used as a starting point for your applications, and should be modified to meet sponsor's requirements and to align with your proposed research plan.
Other sponsors' RCR requirements will be added as necessary.
Scope of Training
The RCR course heightens the awareness of trainees to ethical considerations relevant to the conduct of research, to inform them of federal, state and institutional policies, regulations and procedures, and to provide trainees with critical analysis and problem solving skills for ethical decision-making.
At The Rockefeller University the RCR training is overseen by the Dean's Office and includes the following instruction components:
1. Format
The Rockefeller University (RU) RCR training is provided in collaboration with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). MSKCC and RU offer participants joint formal training in the responsible and ethical conduct of research through a Responsible Conduct of Research Course created and directed by MSKCC Director of Research Outreach and Compliance. The Responsible Conduct of Research course is a comprehensive, semester-long course, which is offered annually in the fall. Certificates of completion are granted once all course requirements are satisfied.
2. Subject Matter
Course content covers instruction in the following subject areas: conflict of interest (personal, professional, and financial); policies regarding human subjects, live vertebrate animal subjects in research, safe laboratory practices, mentor/mentee responsibilities and relationships, collaborative research including collaborations with industry, peer review, data acquisition and laboratory tools (including management, sharing and ownership), research and scientific misconduct and policies for handling misconduct, responsible authorship and publication, the scientist as a responsible member of society, contemporary ethical issues in biomedical research and the environmental and societal impacts of scientific research. Content is continuously updated to ensure that it addresses the most current policies and regulations, as well as topical and timely cases in which participants can engage in real time.
Course participants are graded based on class attendance and participation and completion of the required online course materials.
3. Faculty Participation
The Responsible Conduct of Research course is directed by the MSKCC Director of Research Outreach and Compliance and is taught by members of the faculty from The Rockefeller University (RU) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Course instructors include junior and senior faculty from these two institutions, as well as senior administrators who are engaged in research compliance efforts.
For current course schedule and more details contact Kristen Cullen.
On-site training is provided by the individual's mentor/s through working together in the laboratory, sharing experiences and insights, advising on and supervising research activities, and reviewing scientific issues and ethical challenges associated with the specific projects. Mentors provide invaluable practical and experiential guidance to the trainees, and offer other training opportunities designed to prepare her/his trainee/s for well-rounded and productive careers, including laboratory meetings, seminars, journal clubs, and other training venues. [Important to include schedules detailing frequency of individual meetings of trainees with their mentors, meetings of trainees with his/her advisory committee, and how individual progress will be evaluated, as required.]
4. Duration of Instruction
The RCR course is comprised of four face-to-face sessions (eight hours) and nine online sessions. Specific sessions normally include an interactive Orientation session, three small group case study analysis sessions led by faculty and an interactive on-line course that features instructional readings and topical case analysis.
5. Frequency of Instruction
Instruction in the responsible conduct of research occurs throughout a scientist’s career as is appropriate to one's career stage. All RU pre- and post-doctoral appointees on NIH funded NRSA programs must complete this course in the first year of their appointment. In addition, all first year Graduate Fellows and third year Biomedical Fellows must complete the course, so that they are trained in ethical considerations from the outset of their graduate education.
I plan to take the RCR course [indicate target date.]/I have taken the course [indicate completion date./ Previous RCR training from another institution will be evaluated by the Dean’s Office on a case by case basis.] I am also committed to undertake additional training in the responsible conduct of research at least once during each career stage, and at a frequency of no less than once every four years.
RCR course at MSK
RCR at RU
Useful links
Compliance Support
NIH - Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research
NIH - Update on the Requirement for Instruction in Responsible Conduct of Research
NIH - Transcript of Podcast on Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (12.03.10)
NSF - Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
NSF - International Research Integrity
NPA - RCR Toolkit
ORI - RCR Resources
Training & Mentoring Biomedical Researchers
Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) - RCR Webinar
Examples
University of Chicago
Stanford University
