Responsible Conduct of Research

The aims of responsible conduct of research (RCR) program are to encourage integrity in the pursuit of scientific investigation and practice among of scientists, scholars, and professionals. Educating such individuals about the underlying principles of responsible conduct of research will assist in discouraging research misconduct and questionable research practices. Many policies and procedures, ranging from professional societies to the federal government to UMBC, have been created to guide individuals in conducting responsible research and ensuring integrity of research. Below are samples of these policies and procedures and how each are applied to the nine core areas, as determined by Public Health Service.

To start, review On Being a Scientist (3rd edition) from the National Academy of Sciences. This publication was designed to provide informal lessons in ethics for both research supervisors and mentors. The book describes the ethical foundations of scientific practices and some of the personal and professional issues that researchers encounter in their work.

UMBC offers web-based RCR training modules via Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). These courses are designed for faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students who have an interest or focus in the below content research areas. Click on the RCR training link for more information.

Data Management

UMBC Intellectual Property Policy 

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dating Sharing Policy

United States Copyright Office

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Mentor / Trainee Relationships

National Institutes of Health Office of the Director, June 2002. A Guide to Training and Mentoring in the Intramural Research Program at NIH.

National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine (1997): Adviser, Teacher, Role Model, Friend: On Being a Mentor to Students in Science and Engineering. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

National Academy of Science (NAS), 2000. Enhancing the Postdoctoral Experience for Scientists and Engineers: A Guide for Postdoctoral Scholars, Advisors, Institutions, Funding Organizations, and Disciplinary Societies. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Publication Practices & Responsible Authorship

ORI Policy on Plagiarism

American Chemical Society Ethical Guidelines to Publication of Chemical Research

Council of Science Editors

Peer Review

Council of Scientific Editors Editorial Policy Statements

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Research (OER): Peer Review Policy and Issues

Collaborative Science

Dynamic Issues in Scientific Integrity: Collaborative Research

National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council (1999): Overcoming Barriers to Collaborative Research. Report of a Workshop. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

Human Subjects

UMBC Human Research Use Federalwide Assurance

45 CFR Part 46- Protection of Human Subjects

Belmont Report

Declaration of Helsinki

Research Involving Animals

UMBC Animal Welfare Assurance

Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)

PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Animal Welfare Act

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Research Misconduct

UMBC Policy on Academic Misconduct

UMBC Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Scientific Misconduct

Federal Research Misconduct Policy - OSTP

ORI Model Policy and Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Scientific Misconduct 

Handling Misconduct - Legal Concerns

Conflict of Interest & Commitment

UMBC Conflict of Interest Policy & Procedures

UMBC Financial Disclosure Statement

NIH Office of Extramural Research Conflict of Interest Page

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