The Responsible Conduct of Research: Where Are We Now?
Last month we discussed the beginnings of the education and regulations surrounding the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). Here we will discuss where we are now and where we seem to be going.
When you google the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), every organization in the United States that receives Federal funding appears in the search with how they have determined to implement the regulations. Both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), and what they expect from their grantees, also appear. There is no doubt that RCR is more important than ever, especially after the COVID Pandemic and the lack of trust that seemed to stem from it. Where do we stand with these regulations and education? Here is a brief look.
The NIH updated its “Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research” with NOT-OD-22-055 in 2022. The notice updated the format of the RCR instruction expected, the frequency and timing, and the subject matter. Previous notices expected instruction was in-person and discussion-based, but with this update, NIH recognizes the value of face-to-face discussions through video conferencing and not just in-person. The frequency and timing of the instruction were encouraged by NIH to be considered by those providing the training. Existing policy called for instruction to be completed at least once during each career stage and no less than once every four years. With this notice, NIH encourages those organizations to consider “the value of ongoing and discipline-specific training as individuals progress in their research careers.”
The third change in the RCR notice was the addition of several topics in which training should occur. The additions include safe research environments, secure and ethical data use, and data confidentiality. An addition to the training on Conflicts of Interest should now include “conflict of commitment, in allocating time, effort, or other research resources”. With foreign influence being a hot topic over the past several years, training on collaborative research should now include collaborating with investigators and institutions in other countries. Peer review training should also include “the responsibility for maintaining confidentiality and security”. Finally, data analysis suggestions include creating or working with digital images, and “recordkeeping practices, including methods such as electronic laboratory notebooks”.
The NSF provides several resources on their website for what they call the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR). Alleged misconduct involving NSF is investigated by the U.S. National Science Foundation Office of Inspector General. This office was established in 1989 and reports directly to both the NSF and the United States Congress. NIH uses the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) for conducting allegations of research misconduct. The ORI is also responsible for conducting allegations in all Health and Human Services Agencies except for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has the Office of Science Integrity.
As science continues to evolve, so will our responsibility to conduct that research with integrity. It’s vitally important that the public trust what is occurring in our nation’s research laboratories and programs. Without this knowledge gained, so many discoveries might not ever have existed. It’s also important as research administrators that we can guide our investigators in the right direction to assist them in ethically finding the next discovery that is going to positively change what we know about the world.
Authored by Carly Pigg, Research Fiscal Analyst
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
SRAI Catalyst Committee
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