Policies, Responsibilities, and Procedures
The Office of Research Policy coordinates and facilitates research policy, compliance, and integrity activities in the Graduate School for all UW-Madison researchers. Please click here for the 2011 Research Checklist. Major activities include staff support and project development for the following committees and activities:
Research Policy Advisory Committee
The Research Policy Advisory Committee (RPAC) serves as the central body for the coordination of research policy development and implementation. The RPAC is comprised of five associate deans for research, the director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, and a representative from Legal Services. The Graduate School's Associate Dean for Research Policy serves as the chairperson.
Human Research Protections Program
Research involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to any research intervention with participants. Training is required before a project is submitted to an IRB for review.
Responsible Conduct of Research
Nationally, there has been a concerted effort to develop educational resources to train scientific researchers in research ethics. The University supports such initiatives.
Research Misconduct
The University is bound ethically and legally to respond to allegations of scientific misconduct in a fair, objective, and timely manner. Faculty Policies and Procedures provide guidance for reporting, hearing, and review of these situations.
Conflict of Interest and Outside Activities Reports
All faculty and academic staff are required by state and federal law to file an annual report of outside activities and financial interests. The Conflict of Interest Committee reviews disclosures and provides guidance for managing, reducing, or eliminating actual or apparent conflicts of interest.
Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research
Research involving human embryonic stem cells or their derivatives as well as certain other kinds of human pluripotent stem cell research must be reviewed and approved by the Stem Cell Research Oversight (SCRO) Committee before it can initiated. Training is required before a protocol is submitted to the SCRO Committee for review.
Reasonable Compensation for Research or Program Assistants (RA/PA) on NIH Funding
The NIH mandates that the total cost of a Research or Porgram Assistant on NIH funding does not exceed a Reasonable Compensation Limit. The Graduate School has developed a policy regarding this limit.