Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

• 3 page limit
• Definition of Responsible Conduct of Research:
  • The practice of scientific investigation with integrity.  It involves the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to scientific research.

• RCR is an essential component of research training. Therefore, instruction in RCR is an integral part of all research training programs, and its evaluation will impact funding decisions.
• Active involvement in the issues of RCR should occur throughout a scientist’s career. Instruction in RCR should therefore be appropriate to the career stage of the individuals receiving training.
• Individuals supported by individual funding opportunities such as fellowships and career development awards are encouraged to assume individual and personal responsibility for their instruction in RCR.
• Research faculty of the institution should participate in instruction in RCR in ways that allow them to serve as effective role models for their trainees, fellows, and scholars.
• Instruction should include face-to-face discussions by course participants and faculty; i.e., on-line instruction may be a component of instruction in RCR but is not sufficient to meet the NIH requirement for such instruction, except in special or unusual circumstances.
• Instruction in RCR must be carefully evaluated in all NIH grant applications for which it is a required component.
• The RCR Plan needs to include how applicants plan to incorporate the five instructional parts outlined in NIH Policy:
  1. Format  - Describe the required format of instruction, i.e., face-to-face lectures, coursework, and/or real-time discussion groups. A plan with only on-line instruction is not acceptable.
  2. Subject Matter  - Describe the breadth of subject matter, e.g., conflict of interest, authorship, data management, human subjects and animal use, laboratory safety, research misconduct, and research ethics.
  3. Faculty Participation - Describe the roles of mentor(s) and other faculty involvement in the instruction.
  4. Duration of instruction  - Describe the total number of contact hours of instruction.
  5. Frequency of instruction  - Instruction must occur during each career stage and at least once every four years. Document any prior instruction during the applicant’s current career stage, including the inclusive dates instruction was last completed.

Renewal applications:

• Does the progress report document acceptable RCR instruction in the five components described above? 
• Does the plan describe how participation in RCR instruction is being monitored?
• Are appropriate changes in the plan for RCR instruction proposed in response to feedback and in response to evolving issues related to RCR?
• UCSD specific information regarding policy and procedures for adhering to the highest standards of integrity in proposing, conducting, and reporting research.

See Also

• NOT-OD-10-019
• NIH POLICY
• Blink Page on Responsible Conduct of Research.
• A copy of the RCR template can be obtained by visiting UCSD ethics website.  It can be used as a starting point for addressing the ethics portion of a training grant proposal.  PD/PI's are encouraged to customize the RCR template to represent the needs of their program while including the courses and resources provided by the University.