Responsible Conduct of Research

All MD-PhD students are required to complete formal training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) during their graduate education. This training ensures that students understand the ethical principles and regulatory standards that guide responsible scientific inquiry.

Format The course is highly interactive, featuring a combination of lectures, case studies, and discussions. Sessions incorporate real-world examples, NIH-provided materials, and a dedicated panel discussion with journal editors and study section chairs on responsible publication and authorship practices. Students are expected to actively participate and complete a short quiz following each session.

Subject Matter Training topics include:

• Research misconduct, ethical policies, and safe laboratory practices

• Mentor-mentee responsibilities and relationships

• Laboratory notebooks, data management, and public databases

• Responsible authorship, publication, and peer review

• Policies for research involving human subjects and live vertebrate animals

• Collaborative research, industry partnerships, and conflict of interest

• Contemporary ethical issues in research

• The process for reviewing allegations of research misconduct

Faculty Participation. Faculty experts lead each session with specialized knowledge in research ethics, scientific integrity, laboratory management, regulatory oversight, and scholarly publishing. Faculty members deliver lectures, lead case discussions, and provide mentorship around best practices in research conduct.

Duration. The course spans eight hours total, offered over four weeks during the fall semester. Attendance is mandatory for all students.

Frequency. Classes meet twice weekly. Students are also required to complete a Rigor and Reproducibility course during the spring semester, complementing the principles learned in RCR. A refresher training is required after four years for students still in their graduate training phase.