Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

• Due to the federal policies involving research grants, all academic institutions applying for monetary aid for research initiatives must employ procedures to educate all personnel conducting said research studies. The institutions must also provide training in ethical research conduct. As such, all personnel involved in the research endeavor must be required to complete the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Responsible Conduct of Research Online Training Modules.
• The City University of New York's Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Policy was implemented in order to adopt guidelines from both the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NSF necessitates academic institutions to verify the enactment of an RCR strategy alongside any supplementary documentation for post-doctoral mentoring. Whereas, the NIH insists that all trainees, fellows, scholars, and research participants obtain training in RCR as per the NIH Notice NOT-OD-10-019.
• All faculty and staff interested in applying for a research grant - funded internally or externally - are requested to provide a copy of their current RCR certificate of completion. Please note: The RCR certificates are valid for three years.
• In addition to RCR training, please note that all CUNY personnel conducting research are subject to the following policies.
  CUNY Responsible Conduct of Research & Research Misconduct Resources
  CUNY Conflict of Interest Policies
• Faculty must also submit the appropriate Significant Financial Interest Disclosure Form before submitting a grant application.
• Faculty and staff conducting international research or collaborating with international researchers - or whose research contains any other international component - must adhere to the CUNY Policy on Export Controls.
  Note: if there are no international constituents to your research, you are required to submit an Export Control Preliminary Evaluation Form before you submit your grant application.

Conflict of Interest (COI) describes any bias in one's research or academic projects, unsuitable authority over a college or university's subordinates or students, excessive influence over research participants, improper uses of a college or university's funds or property, and any public contentions of unethical behavior.

The general policy of the City Univerisity of New York (CUNY) requires that all activities conducted must follow the highest standards of integrity and ethics, and must not reflect or appear to reflect negatively on the credibility, objectivity, or fairness of a CUNY college or university, and likewise any of its leadership, faculty or staff. You can find more information regarding COI policy in the CUNY Conflict of Interest Policy PDF.

Prior to submitting any grant or funding applications PIs must submit a Conflict of Interest Disclosure form to the GO at the ORSP.

For more information regarding CUNY COI policies please refer to the CUNY Conflict of Interest webpage.