Responsible Conduct of Research

Certain Federal funding agencies have adopted requirements for training on the responsible conduct of research for certain individuals supported by or participating in projects funded by those agencies.

Required RCR Training Compliance Matrix

*NIH applies to the following award types: D43, D71, F05, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F37, F38, K01, K02, K05, K07, K08, K12, K18, K22, K23, K24, K25, K26, K30, K99/R00, KL1, KL2, R25, R36, T15, T32, T34, T35, T36, T37, T90/R90, TL1, TU2, and U2R.

Federal Agency Information

HHS/NIH Requirements

• Applicability: NIH requires that all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award (individual or institutional), research education grant, and dissertation research grant must receive instruction in responsible conduct of research.  Acceptable programs generally involve at least eight contact hours. Applicable programs include D43, D71, F05, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F37, F38, K01, K02, K05, K07, K08, K12, K18, K22, K23, K24, K25, K26, K30, K99/R00, KL1, KL2, R25, R36, T15, T32, T34, T35, T36, T37, T90/R90, TL1, TU2, and U2R. 
• Training Plan: NIH requires an RCR Training Plan be included in each proposal submitted to one of the programs listed above. The plan must include substantial face-to-face discussions among the participating trainees, fellows, scholars, and participants; a combination of didactic and small-group discussions (e.g. case studies); and participation of research training faculty members in instruction in responsible conduct of research are highly encouraged. While on-line courses can be a valuable supplement to instruction in responsible conduct of research, online instruction is not considered adequate as the sole means of instruction.

A plan that employs only online coursework for instruction in responsible conduct of research will not be considered acceptable, except in special instances of short-term training programs (see below), or unusual and well-justified circumstances.

NSF RCR Requirements

• Applicability: An institution must have a plan in place to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who will be supported by NSF to conduct research. NSF encourages training of faculty in the responsible and ethical conduct of research. While training plans are not required to be included in proposals submitted to NSF, institutions are advised that they are subject to review, upon request.
• Timing of Training: NSF-supported postdoctoral fellows and graduate students must complete their training within two months of their initial appointment or assignment to the grant. NSF-supported undergraduates must complete their training within one month of their initial appointment or assignment to the grant.
• NSF Formal Training: Satisfactory completion of the online training course offered by CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative). This option is available to anyone with an @FGCU email address, including postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and USDA/NIFA project personnel. See instructions on creating a CITI account. Note: USDA/NIFA project staff should follow the instructions provided for Postdoctoral scholars.
• Informal Training: See Informal Training under NIH above.
• Citation: National Science Foundation, Responsible Conduct of Research, as published in NSF’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide.
• USDA/NIFA RCR REQUIREMENTS
  Applicability: By accepting a NIFA award the grantee assures that program directors, faculty, undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and any staff participating in the research project receive appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research and that documentation of such training will be maintained.
• USDA/NIFA Formal Training: Satisfactory completion of the online training course offered by CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative). This option is available to anyone with an @FGCU email address, including postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, and USDA/NIFA project personnel. See instructions on creating a CITI account. Note: USDA/NIFA project staff should follow the instructions provided for Postdoctoral scholars.
• Informal Training: See Informal Training under NIH above.
• Citation: 2 CFR Part 422, Sections 2, 3, and 8