This policy underscores the ethical principles for responsible conduct by which all UAB faculty, employees, and trainees must abide in the performance, recording, and reporting of research and scholarly activities. It also sets forth the procedures to be followed in the case of suspected research misconduct, from preliminary assessment through final outcome of an investigation.

Some sponsors restrict the total number of applications submitted per institution, school, and/or discipline. When the sponsor's program guidelines stipulate a limit, an internal review process may be necessary to determine the applicant(s) or proposal(s) to represent UAB.

This procedure details the responsibilities of the investigator, OIRB, IRB and the institution for reviewing and signing of independent investigator agreements.