Responsible Conduct of Research Course for Clinical Researchers

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) helps clinical researchers learn how to address the ethical issues that inevitably arise in research. Using video lectures, readings, case studies and weekly real-time small-group discussions via Zoom, the course addresses requirements and regulations for human-subjects research, including IRB approval and consent. Key topics include research ethics, conflicts of interest, research misconduct, authorship and ethical challenges related to research in resource-poor countries.

NIH RCR Training Requirements Per NIH notice NOT-OD-10-019, "NIH policy requires participation in and successful completion of instruction in responsible conduct of research by individuals supported by any NIH training/research education/fellowship/career award. […] Instruction must be undertaken at least once during each career stage, and at a frequency of no less than once every four years."

Course Objectives

  1. Identify ethical issues that clinical and translational researchers commonly face and the ethical guidelines for addressing these issues.
  2. Explain key elements of the federal regulations for research with human subjects, research misconduct and conflicts of interest.
  3. Review historical examples that have led to current standards of informed consent. Discuss challenges to and strategies for obtaining appropriate consent.
  4. Discuss pertinent issues related to authorship, including why authorship is an important and often difficult element within the research process.
  5. Identify key ethical issues related to conduct of research in resource-poor countries.
  6. Explore a wide array of ethical dilemmas by participating in scholarly dialogue around at least one topical case study each week.
  7. Provide constructive feedback on colleagues' ideas regarding ethical issues in research.

Grading

Participants enrolled in the Responsible Conduct of Research course may receive either:

· A Grade of Pass / Fail (if matriculated through the UCSF Registrar)

· A Certificate of Completion

To receive a completion certificate or passing grade, all participants must submit 6 written case study responses during weeks 2-7 AND attend one small-group discussion each week during weeks 2-7. Participants who do not complete these requirements will not pass the course.

Schedule

Responsible Conduct of Research is a 7-week online course. Participants are expected to devote at least 4 hours per week to individual work and small-group discussion via Zoom. Topics include:

  • Clinical Research Regulations and IRB Review
  • Informed Consent
  • Conflicts of Interest
  • What is Research Misconduct and Why Does It Matter?
  • Big Data and Genomic Research Ethics
  • Authorship
  • Research in Resource-Poor Countries

Assignments

Participants are expected to:

  • Complete assigned reading
  • View recorded lectures
  • Post detailed responses to case study questions each week during weeks 2-7
  • Participate in web-conference case study discussions each week during weeks 2-7
  • Complete weekly and end-of-course evaluations

Case Studies

The following case studies have been explored in recent RCR courses. Each year several new case studies are substituted to keep the course current and relevant.

  • An Internet-based Intervention for Depression
  • Cognitive Impairment after Cardiac Surgery
  • Return of Genetic Findings in Research
  • Use of Neonatal Blood Samples for Research
  • Concerns about Data Integrity
  • Participation of an Inventor in a Clinical Trial
  • Conflicts of Interest During Peer Review
  • Influences of Research Misconduct on Meta-analysis
  • Is it Plagiarism? Is it Reprehensible?
  • Who is an Author?
  • Disputes over Authorship
  • Adding an Author
  • Sex Workers in Kenya
  • International Research Projects

Faculty and Staff

Course Director

Sara Ackerman, PhD, MPH, is a medical anthropologist working in the interdisciplinary fields of bioethics and implementation science. She is Associate Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Director of the Regulatory Knowledge and Support Program at UCSF’s Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI). Her research focuses on ethical and social justice issues in emerging precision medicine initiatives, including the implications of diversity and inclusion efforts in genomics research, the challenges of implementing broad data sharing, and the use of community engagement strategies to enhance the communication of research findings to participants and the public.