Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR)

The IU Center for Bioethics and the Bioethics and Subject Advocacy Program (BSAP) of the Indiana CTSI are committed to training of future researchers in Responsible Conduct of Research, which the NIH defines as “the practice of scientific investigation with integrity. It involves the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to scientific research.” Since 1994, the NIH has required RCR training for individuals supported by training grants such as K, T, or F grants.  RCR training is separate from the CITI online training required for all researchers by the IRB. 

Some training grants, such as K awards, require RCR training over the entire duration of the award, which includes but goes significantly beyond coursework.  Click here to see the latest guidance.

  1. Conflict of interest personal, professional, and financial and conflict of commitment, in allocating time, effort, or other research resources
  2. Policies regarding human subjects, live vertebrate animal subjects in research, and safe laboratory practices
  3. Mentor/mentee responsibilities and relationships
  4. Safe research environments (e.g., those that promote inclusion and are free of sexual, racial, ethnic, disability and other forms of discriminatory harassment)
  5. Collaborative research, including collaborations with industry and investigators and institutions in other countries
  6. Peer review, including the responsibility for maintaining confidentiality and security in peer review
  7. Data acquisition and analysis; laboratory tools (e.g., tools for analyzing data and creating or working with digital images); recordkeeping practices, including methods such as electronic laboratory notebooks
  8. Secure and ethical data use; data confidentiality, management, sharing, and ownership
  9. Research misconduct and policies for handling misconduct
  10. Responsible authorship and publication
  11. The scientist as a responsible member of society, contemporary ethical issues in biomedical research, and the environmental and societal impacts of scientific research

Learn more here about the following services offered by the Bioethics and Subject Advocacy Program of the Indiana CTSI: 

  • Courses in RCR
  • RCR training
  • Help formulating RCR training for career development or training proposals.

Courses in RCR (Indianapolis):

The IU Center for Bioethics and Bioethics and Subject Advocacy Program (BSAP) of the Indiana CTSI offer two courses in RCR, both of which satisfy the NIH requirements for instruction in RCR.

GRDM-G504, “Introduction to Research Ethics” is a three-credit course that is offered each Fall term. This course provides an in-depth introduction to a wide range of issues related to scientific integrity and the responsible conduct of research. The course meets for 2 hrs and 40 minutes once a week and has a required take-home midterm and final exam. G504 course is most appropriate for students who would like a complete introduction to RCR, especially those who are in a graduate program where they can count this course towards their degree.  Some graduate programs require G504, including the CITE program.    

Click here to see a recent syllabus.

Click here to see the listing in the IU - Indianapolis course catalog.

GRDM-G506, “Responsible Conduct of Translational Research” is a one-credit course that is offered each Spring term. It meets for just 8 sessions, 1 hr and 30 minutes each, for two months (e.g. Jan-Feb) and has a take-home midterm and final. This course provides a more limited and focused introduction on key topics in RCR, especially related to translational research, such as clinical trials and other human participants research. 

Click here to see a recent syllabus.

Click here to see the listing in the IU - Indianapolis course catalog.

The Center for Bioethics is pleased to announce that we're starting a Responsible Conduct in Research workshop series starting in January 2025. It will consist of 8 sessions. If interested, please email olivnj@iu.edu.

Students who need to satisfy RCR training requirements for an NIH training grant may audit one of these courses, with the agreement of the course director. See how to register as a non-degree seeking student here. 

Some departments and graduate programs also offer their own RCR courses, such as GDRM-G 505, "The Responsible Conduct of Research" in the Biological Sciences Graduate Group and NURS-D 602, "Responsible Conduct of Research" in the School of Nursing. Click here for more information about RCR at IU.

Courses in RCR Across the CTSI

IU Bloomington RCR: https://research.iu.edu/campaigns/educational-initiatives/rcr-seminar-series.html 

Purdue RCR: https://www.purdue.edu/academics/ogsps/research/rcr/index.php 

Notre Dame: https://research.nd.edu/our-services/compliance/research-integrity/responsible-conduct/ 

Additional RCR Training Opportunities and Assistance

Research Ethics for K Recipients (REKR)

The Research Ethics for K Recipients (REKR) seminar is for NIH K applicants and awardees to discuss their research with their peers. Participants meet every two months and take a deep dive into the ethics issues specific to their research project.  If interested in participating, please contact Mr. Nicolas Oliver (olivnj@iu.edu).

Planning RCR Training

BSAP Faculty can help applicants for K-series grants formulate and then carry out extended training in responsible conduct of research that spans the period of the award. 

For more information about RCR training for your K grant, contact:

Peter Schwartz, MD, PhD   or  Nic Oliver, MA