RCR Ethics Boilerplate
Responsible Conduct in Research Program (RCR) [GENERIC TEXT FOR NIH GRANTS]
The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is in full compliance with all requirements contained in NOT-OD-10-019, “Requirements for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research”.
Format: The instruction in RCR includes face-to-face small group as well as online instruction covering a variety of topics. All UNMC doctoral graduate students and NIH supported post-doctoral fellows or trainees are required to complete and pass the Basic Biomedical RCR Modules of the CITI Program (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative). CITI affiliated faculty including some from UNMC developed this mandatory, web-based component. It provides an extensive literature based review of the NIH required RCR topics, includes numerous case studies and video exercises and concludes each module with a brief content-based quiz. Completion of the CITI curriculum is followed by face-to-face, faculty-led workshops consisting of a series of short lectures, discussions and presentations of cases on scientific integrity and responsible conduct in research. Our own faculty developed many of these cases, while others are derived from “On Being a Scientist” (NAP, 3rd Ed, 2009).
Subject Matter:
a) The CITI Program online modules cover topics including: Research Misconduct, Data Management, Conflict of Interest, Collaborative Science, Responsible Authorship, Mentoring, Peer Review, Lab Animals, and Human Subjects.
b) The Responsible Conduct in Research Workshop covers the following areas:
- Overview of Responsible Conduct in Research
- Data Management
- Authorship
- Mentoring
- Peer Review
- Collaborative Science
- Conflict of Interest
- Data acquisition & monitoring
- Ethics and Regulations of Research with Humans and Animals
- The Scientist as a Responsible Member of Society.
Faculty Participation: Three, regular full time faculty and the UNMC Compliance Officer are lead instructors and participants in the workshop. Numerous additional faculty members from several UMMC programs are also frequent participants who contribute to the rich discussions that characterize the workshops. All faculty members who are involved in NIH training programs are strongly encouraged to attend and participate in the workshops.
Duration: The RCR Workshop consists of eight classroom hours, delivered in two-hour class meetings scheduled during consecutive weeks during each semester. The students are required to attend all 8 contact hours of these sessions. Multiple workshops are scheduled throughout each semester.
Frequency: The workshops are usually scheduled twice per year during both the spring and fall semesters. Additional workshops may be scheduled depending upon participant enrollment and demand.
After completion of the workshop a “Certificate of Completion” is provided to the student and a record of such is maintained in the Graduate Studies and/or Postdoctoral Affairs Offices.