Responsible Conduct of Research Training

What is Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training?

NIH defines RCR 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." The RCR Series at Children's National Hospital will cover all areas of RCR, including but not limited to:

- Conflict of interest – personal, professional, and financial
- Policies regarding human subjects, live vertebrate animal subjects in research, and safe laboratory practices
- Mentor/mentee responsibilities and relationships
- Collaborative research including collaborations with industry
- Peer review
- Data acquisition and laboratory tools; management, sharing and ownership
- Research misconduct and policies for handling misconduct
- Responsible authorship and publication
- The scientist as a responsible member of society, contemporary ethical issues in biomedical research, and the environmental and societal impacts of scientific research

Trainees, scholars, and faculty requried to complete this training must finish 8 hours of training to satisfy this requirement. At least 4 of these hours must be completed in face-to-face discussion settings; the rest can be completed via approved online modules, lectures, and other traditional formats. The approved methods for completing this training are detailed below.

Who is required to complete this training?

As a condition for receiving federal funding for health research training grants and career development awards, federal funders (including NIH, DOD, and NSF) require all participants in training grants to receive training in RCR. Anyone supported by or named on a training grant that mandates RCR training needs to complete this training at least once during each career stage, and at a frequency of no less than once every four years. The resources and events connected with this training program, however, are open to all at Children's National.

How can I complete this training?

With the full understanding that trainees, scholars, and faculty have busy schedules, we have created a hybrid model of training that allows participants to complete the requirement through a combination of on-demand and in-person formats:

Format	Description	Hours	Counts towards face-to-face hours?
RCR Series Presentations	Attend bi-monthly presentations hosted by the RCR Series at Children's National. Events include lectures from expert speakers, detailed case studies with experienced investigators, and facilitated interviews around hot topics in RCR. Attend in-person or view online if available.	1 hr/each	No
Discussion Sections	Attend lively, wide-ranging facilitated discussions between trainees, scholars, and faculty that provide participants the opportunity to discuss different areas of RCR in the context of their work and research environment. These will be held bi-monthly.	1 hr/each	Yes
CITI Training	Complete the existing RCR training in CITI.	2 hr	No
Lab/Department/Mentor Discussions	Using guidance materials provided by the Children's National RCR Series team, participants may organize discussions around RCR topics in their research setting. These sessions can be formalized group discussions within a lab/department or one-to-one discussions with a mentor.	1 hr/each	Yes
Other RCR trainings	Credit will also be available for completion of RCR trainings through courses and presentations at other institutions.	1 hr/each training	Depends on format

What does satisfactory completion of the program look like?

Here’s one way in which a trainee required to complete the program may satisfy their requirement. This sample includes the eight required contact hours and two additional hours.

Format	Description	Face-to-Face Hours	Lecture/ Online Hours	Total Hours Completed
Lecture	Attended July 2019 lecture		1	1
Lab Meeting	Discussed issues of authorship at lab meeting with PI and colleagues using discussion guide	1		2
CITI Training	Completed CITI training in RCR		2	4
Discussion Section	Attended Oct 2019 discussion section	1		5
Lecture	Viewed Nov 2019 lecture archived online		1	6
Discussion Section	Attended Feb 2020 discussion section	1		7
Lab Meeting	Discussed issues of peer review at lab meeting with PI and colleagues using discussion guide	1		8
Discussion Section	Attended April 2020 discussion section	1		9
Lecture	Viewed Jan 2020 lecture archived online		1	10
Total		5	5	10

hOW DO I RECEIVE CREDIT FOR rcr TRAINING i COMPLETED?

In order to fulfill your RCR training requirement, you will have to submit proof of each completed training component via the RCR Credit Submission form. In addition to completing the form, some training components require additional documentation to be uploaded through the form to confirm training:

Component	Additional Uploads Required
RCR Series Presentation or Discussion	None
CITI Training	CITI Completion Certificate
Lab/Department/Mentor Discussions	RCR Discussion Report Form Ensure you have used the RCR Discussion Guide to structure your discussion, as this is the only method for claiming credit through this component.
Other online or in-person trainings related to RCR	Documentation of attendance/completion

When are the RCR SEries events?

Here is the most up-to-date RCR Series schedule for 2019-2020:

Month	Topic and Speaker	Date and Time	Training Type	Training Area Covered
July 2019	RCR Series Kickoff Speaker(s): Christine Grady, MSN, PhD	July 18, 2019 8:30-9:30 AM	Presentation	Research Misconduct
Sept 2019	Responsible Authorship & Publication Facilitators: Julia Slutsman, PhD, Vanessa Madrigal, MD	September 19, 2019 8:30-9:30 AM	Case Study Discussion	Authorship
Oct 2019	Research Misconduct & Technology Faciliators: Naomi Luban, MD, Pamela Hinds, PhD, RN, FAAN	October 28, 2019 9:00-10:00am	Case Study Discussion	Research Misconduct
Nov 2019	Conflict of Interest in Research Speaker(s): Lisa Adkins, Esq, RN, CHC, Cathy Pearcy	November 12, 2019 4:00-5:00 PM	Presentation	Conflict of Interest
Dec 2019	Mentors: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Sweaters Speaker: Debra Regier, MD	December 9, 2019 4:00-5:00 PM	Presentation	Mentorship
Dec 2019	Children's National Amanda Toll Memorial Lectureship - Ethics and Research with Children: The Cancer Example Speaker: Eric Kodish, MD	December 18, 201912:00-1:00 PM	Presentation	Contemporary Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research
Jan 2020	The Role of Culture in Research Facilitators: Yoram Unguru, MD, MS, MA	January 17, 2020 10:00-11:00 AM	Presentation	Scientist as a responsible member of society, justice
Feb 2020	RCR Discussion Section Facilitators: Julia Slutsman, PhD, Vanessa Madrigal, MD	TBA	Case Study Discussion	TBA

RCR offerings at the George Washington University

Element	Description	Delivery	Hours / Frequency	Lead	Location
Ethics & Grant Writing Course	An instructional course for PhD students covering ethical issues related to the conduct of research, animal use, and human subject participation. Includes all nine points of RCR. Spring semester course. Fifteen sessions. Syllabus attached here.	Lectures & Presentations In Person Only	1 hour 15 minutes / Weekly	Ljuba Caldovic lcaldovic@childrensnational.org	George Washington University
RCR Summer Course	A one week instructional course offered at GWSPH during Summer 2019. Includes speakers from within and outside GW (including relevant institutional officials). Syllabus still in development.	Lectures & Presentations, Discussion Sections In Person Only	3 hours 30 minutes / Five afternoon sessions	Paul Ndebele, Adnan Hyder pndebele@email.gwu.edu hydera1@email.gwu.edu	George Washington University
RCR Series	A hybrid model of presentations and discussion sections offered periodically. A combination of internal and invited speakers covering an area of their expertise, sitting for a facilitated interview, or detailing a case study.	Lectures & Presentations, Discussion Sections Online or In Person	One (1) per month; please check schedule.	Hiromi Sanders sandersh@email.gwu.edu	George Washington University
RCR Fall Course	Semester long instructional course offered at GW during Fall 2019. Will include GW faculty/researchers as instructors. Will incorporate Case Western University’s/Allison Hall’s RCR curriculum. Speaker list still in development.	Lectures & Presentations, Discussion Sections In Person Only	1 hour 30 minutes / 11 -15 week course	Hiromi Sanders sandersh@email.gwu.edu	RCR Fall Course
Animal Research Facility (ARF)	The ARF provides space, equipment, and care for laboratory animals used for research and teaching purposes. The facility helps ensure that all “ the use of animals in research projects are necessary, that the investigator has included in the protocol measures to eliminate any unnecessary pain and discomfort to the animals, and that alternatives to the use of live animals have been considered.” Veterinary Services offers several hands-on training courses: “Rodent Handling and Basic Techniques” “Rodent Surgical Training” “Rabbit Handling and Basic Techniques” “Advanced Techniques” The ARF also offers additional training: “Facility Orientations” are scheduled for individuals who have been approved on an active IACUC protocol. “Dog Volunteer Orientations”	Lectures & Presentations In Person Only	Rodent Basic – Every Thurs. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Rodent Surgical – Every other Wed. 1:30-4:30 p.m. Rabbit Handling – as needed basis Advanced Techniques – as needed basis Facility Orientations – Every Mon. & Wed. 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Dog Volunteer Orientations – as needed basis	Bethany Rentz, Mike Manion Please contact IACUC@gwu.edu to register.	George Washington University
Lab Safety Training	The Office of the Vice President for Research at GW offers a variety of biosafety trainings for students, staff, faculty and researchers. The training modules include biosafety and blood borne pathogen training, radiation safety, laser safety, biosafety cabinet use, shipments of biological material and dry ice, field research safety, gross anatomy training, and basic biological laboratory training. Training is necessary to help familiarize new employees with the program, communicate new or significant changes, and for compliance with the various regulations.	Lectures & Presentations Online or In Person	As needed / Upon request	Mariel Jais Please contact Labsafety@gwu.edu to register.	George Washington University
PRIM&R & Other WebEx Presentations	Ex. AAHRPP – Common Rule; AAHRPP – Informed Consent; An introduction to the potential application of the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) to the US-based research community.	Lectures & Presentations Online Only	As needed / Upon request	Debra Paxton &/or Hiromi Sanders Please contact ohrirb@gwu.edu or resinteg@gwu.edu to register.	George Washington University
Human Subject Research Presentations	A presentation series that covers topics related to human subject research including informed consent, single IRB, student research, institutional authorization agreement, project development, and chart reviews.	Lectures & Presentations, Discussion Sections Online or In Person	As needed / Upon request	Debra Paxton Please contact ohrirb@gwu.edu to register.	George Washington University