Faculty and Staff Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research

UAB has adopted a policy that all research-active faculty and staff renew basic instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) every four years. Like many other research institutions, UAB subscribes to the CITI Program to provide high quality, peer-reviewed, web-based educational materials for researchers to use to demonstrate their awareness, understanding, and appreciation for expectant RCR principles. Many of UAB’s faculty and staff have already begun or completed the CITI course entitled “RCR – Basic Course for Faculty and Staff” and we encourage research-active faculty and staff to take the course as soon as convenient.

The course is self-paced and involves modules on the following topics: authorship, peer review, plagiarism, reproducibility, data management, and export control. The modules are informative and relevant, and the brief 5 question quizzes can be taken at any time during each module to memorialize completion.

Most researchers are already familiar with the CITI Program. This is the same utility used for basic responsible conduct instruction for human subjects in research, animal care and use, financial conflict of interest, and good clinical practices courses among other curricula. After logging in using your BlazerID and Password, follow the prompts to “Add a Course,” find and select the “RCR – Basic Course for Faculty and Staff” and complete the course at your convenience.

Online CITI Program Link: https://citiprogram.org/

In the coming weeks, cohorts from each school will be invited to help monitor timely completion and renewal of the Basic RCR Course for Faculty and Staff. This task will involve confirmation of course completion prior to the release of new, continuation, or supplemental awards. We will ask each Dean’s office to identify a resource who can help in this regard.

In the meantime, we ask that you share this news article with all research-active colleagues among the faculty and staff and encourage them to complete the course soon.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this matter, please e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Recent changes to UAB’s Policy Concerning the Responsible Conduct of Research and Other Scholarly Activities have been adopted to reflect current best practice and to align with changes in federal regulation 42 CFR Part 93 published September 1, 2024. These changes include:

1. Policy Name Change: UAB’s Policy is now called the Research Misconduct Policy and is effective for allegations assessed on or after May 21, 2025. A companion Policy and/or Procedure concerning the broader Responsible Conduct of Research enterprise is forthcoming.
2. Expanded Definitions: An expanded set of clear definitions for terms used throughout the Policy and Procedure.
3. Clear Process for Allegations: Addition of a clear process for assessing incoming allegations and conducting inquiries and investigations.
4. Clarification of Advancement: Clarification concerning the advancement of allegations from assessment to inquiry and from inquiry to investigation with refinement to the construct of these bodies.
5. Adjudicating Officer Change: Changing the adjudicating officer to the Vice President for Research, with the Provost serving as the officer responsible for administrative and personnel actions, which may be subject to other UAB Policies.
6. Timeline Adjustments: Adjusting the timeline for UAB to conduct an inquiry to 30 days after the first meeting of an Inquiry Panel, and increasing the time allotted for post-inquiry investigations to 180 days after an Investigation Committee receives its charge.
7. Refinement of Appeals: Refinement such that findings of Research Misconduct are not subject to appeal, although administrative personnel actions may be subject to appeal pursuant to any companion UAB Policy relevant to the action.

These changes aim to ensure clarity, efficiency, and alignment with federal regulations. The new Policy is accessible via:
https://uab-public.policystat.com/policy/18313773/latest

Questions concerning the new regulations should be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate Vice President for Research Compliance or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Director of Research Integrity Assurance via e-mail.