Profile

Ms. Debra Schaller-Demers MS, MSOM

Senior Director, Research Integrity and Compliance

Contact Details

Bio

Debra Schaller-Demers (Debbie) has been a research management professional since 2002.

As Senior Director of Research Outreach and Compliance, she directs and controls an effective quality assurance (QA) program, to promote prevention, detection, and resolution of grants and contracts management noncompliance with federal/state law and other sponsor requirements. This QA initiative includes training/education, monitoring, auditing, investigations and corrective action, as appropriate, to ensure/certify compliance with federal/state and external sponsor regulations and institutional mandates.

In addition, she administratively directs the Tri- Institutional Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), and the Export Controls and

Controlled Substances in Animal and Laboratory Research programs. She assists the Research Integrity Officer with investigating allegations of research misconduct.

She also directs educational programs in the responsible conduct of research for Tri-Institutional trainees, faculty, and staff that meet the requirements of federal sponsors and institutional policies; and programs to educate and train investigators and staff with respect to new or revised Institutional policies, procedures, and other initiatives.

Debbie also works as an adjunct lecturer for the City University of New York’s School of Professional Studies online graduate program in Research Administration and Compliance. Starting in January 2019, she is teaching Introduction to Research Compliance, Ethics, and Integrity.

Debbie is a Past-president of SRAI's Northeast Section, the 2011 recipient of the SRAI Excellence Award - Intermediate Level and the SRAI Hartford-Nicholsen Award, former Editor and current contributor for the SRAI Catalyst, and former Co-chair of the Education and Professional Development Committee (EPDC). She is a frequent facilitator, content creator, and/or track leader in Research Ethics/Compliance or Professional Development at international, section, chapter, and training programs and was inducted as SRAI Distinguished Faculty in 2012. She was elected to the SRAI Board of Directors in October 2012 for a three-year term and served as one of the 2012 SRAI Annual Meeting Co-Chairs. She also serves on the Communications Committee for the Association of Research Integrity Officers (ARIO). She has presented nationally and globally at related organizations such as ARMA (UK), WCRI (Rio, Amsterdam, Hong Kong), INORMS (Melbourne and Edinburgh), PRIM&R, ARIO, CAREB (Montreal), and as a webinar presenter for CARA (CA).

Debbie has authored research integrity articles for SRA International's Journal of Research Administration, the SRA International Symposium (Best Paper Winner in 2005, 2007, 2010) and Research Global Magazine. She has written a book chapter entitled: “Building a Responsible Conduct of Research Program to Sustain an Institutional Culture of Research Integrity and Compliance,” for a research compliance textbook that was published in 2015. She has a background in graphic and fine art, conflict resolution, public education advocacy, and holds a Master of Science Degree in Organization and Management.

SRA International Service:
  • SRA International President-Elect 2019-2020
  • SRA International Micro-Credentialing Project, Curriculum Chair for Research Integrity, 2019 - Present
  • SRA International EPDC Programming Track Co-Chair, Leadership/Professional Development, 2018- Present
  • SRA International EPDC Programming Track Chair, Research Ethics and Compliance 2017-2018; 2018-Present
  • SRA International EPDC Programming Track Committee Member, Health/Clinical Trials 2017- 2018
  • ORI/SRAI Conference Grant Award: Supporting responsible research organizations: A framework for engaged research managers and administrators 2016
  • SRA International Distinguished Faculty Emeritus 2018-Present
  • SRA International Distinguished Faculty 2012-2018
  • SRA International EPDC Co-Chair 2014-2016
  • SRA International At Large Board Member 2012-2015
  • SRA International Past-President of the Northeast Section
  • SRA International Former Catalyst Editor and Current Contributing Columnist
  • SRA International Symposium Reviewer 2017-Present

Honors and Awards

Herbert Chermside
2024

SRAI Excellence Award - Intermediate Level
2011

SRAI Hartford-Nicholsen Award
2011