4. Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and Rigor and Reproducibility

A. Responsible Conduct of Research

(i)  Link to NIH RCR instructions

(ii)  Sample Sections from T32 grants (please use as an example only)

Price Waltz: Price Waltz Plan for Responsible Conduct of Research 5.17 (PDF)
Kranias Molkentin: Kranias Molkentin Responsible Conduct of Research 01 17 19 (PDF)

(iii)  Comments on RCR training: 

• Don’t underestimate the importance of this section of your grant application. The NIH go through this section very carefully and it can be used to rate your application as unacceptable
• Purely online training is not acceptable. There must be face-to-face training
• The COM Ethics in Research/Scientific Integrity course is designed to meet the NIH requirements.
• NIH want to see faculty mentor involvement in RCR training. You can make this happen by requiring mentors of trainees to lead a discussion section of the Ethics in Research course

(iv)  University of Cincinnati Ethics in Research/Scientific Integrity Course GNTD 7003-001

This is the main Ethics in Research course. It is a one credit course and is taught annually in the spring semester

Contact Information:  Holly Bante, PhD (holly.bante@uc.edu)
Tel: 556-5501, Office: University Hall Ste. 246C

Links to:

• Syllabus and Schedule: Ethics in Research Syllabus spring 2019 (DOCX)
• Faculty who have led discussion sessions: Ethics in Research Facilitators (DOCX)
• Discussion Assignment Examples
  Case 1: Authorship: Authorship Case Facilitators (DOCX)  |  Case analysis worksheet (PDF)
  Case 2: Misconduct: Julio and Samantha Case Facilitators (DOCX)  |  Case analysis worksheet (RTF)
  Case 3: Conflict of Interest: Nellie Shepherd Case Facilitators (DOC)
  Case 4: Human Subjects: A DNA Dilemma Facilitators (DOCX)
• Facilitation Guidelines: Facilitation Guidelines (DOCX)

(v)  University of Cincinnati Ethics in Research Refresher Course

This one credit course is intended for students who have already completed a responsible conduct of research (RCR) course and serves to fulfill NIH requirements in respect of formal, periodic retraining.

Contact Information: Jane Strasser, PhD. Associate Vice President for Research. Tel. 513-558-5034. Jane.Strasser@uc.edu 

Syllabus: RCR Refresher Syllabus (DOCX)

(vi)  Other Resources

National Academy of Sciences Publications: On Being a Scientist

(i) Full Booklet: On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research - Third Edition (PDF)

(ii) Chapter on Authorship and Allocation of Credit: On Being a Scientist-Authorship (PDF)

HHS Office of Research Integrity General Resources: Provides Web modules for various aspects of RCR training and links to useful books.

B. Rigor and Reproducibility

Currently (as of 2019) T32 grants do not require this section. But keep your eye on program announcements as it is probably coming.