Preparing scientists to explore the molecules in complex living systems and how molecules influence health and disease
Responsible Conduct of Research
The NIH reports that the incidence of research misconduct is increasing. In a time when basic and biomedical science has never been more important to public welfare, it is critical that research is conducted at the highest standards of ethics and excellence. In response to this, UCSF and CCB have implemented a number of mechanisms to encourage responsible conduct of research (RCR), reproducibility of results and scientific rigor, not only in didactic courses, but throughout the training of each student. The goal of these programs is to establish of culture of ethics, in which student researchers formulate a sense of commitment to RCR.
RCR training in CCB occurs at multiple levels, including in the weekly student seminar series and the QBC journal club, which provide an opportunity for in-depth analysis and critique of recent scientific data. A section dedicated to RCR is included in the qualifying exam (in the student’s second year) and annual thesis meetings, where each student and their faculty committee work together to ensure that research is performed in an ethical and rigorous manner. Finally, all CCB graduate students enroll in a formal course that covers RCR topics, including data management and animal ethics. Learn more: Responsible Conduct of Research.
Ethics, scientific rigor and reproducibility are vital to the CCB mission. In addition to the RCR course, please see the following links to external resources that contain useful materials and guidelines about responsible conduct in research:
