Research Compliance
Boston College is committed to an effective compliance program that is coupled with its efforts to facilitate the pursuit of its research programs. In these research programs, compliance with pertinent regulations and policies is essential to enhancing the public trust. The university’s research compliance program provides support and education for faculty members, students, and staff in regulatory requirements for scientific research. The Office for Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC) has three main responsibilities: research compliance education, oversight, and information clearinghouse.
Educational Programs
ORIC collaborates with other university offices and committees in providing a variety of educational programs. Many of these programs are related to the Responsible Conduct of Research. Other programs will be developed upon special request and as needs develop. If you would like to suggest an educational session or program related to research compliance, please contact Dr. Stephen Erickson, Director, ORIC, either be telephone (2-3345) or by email.
Research Compliance Oversight
ORIC will assist administrative offices and compliance committees by providing advice and assistance in the development of policies and procedures that best meet their needs and fulfill the relevant compliance requirements.
Research Integrity and Misconduct
Conflicts of Interest
Scientific Safety
University Research Compliance Committees and Offices
Research Compliance Clearinghouse
ORIC serves as a resource to researchers, administrative offices, and compliance committees. In the pages that follow, you will find resources on a broad range of research compliance requirements. Additional resources will be added as they become available. In addition, ORIC will also assist you in special searches for information. If you need information you do not find on these pages, please contact Dr. Stephen Erickson, Director, ORIC, either by telephone (2-3345) or by email.
ORIC Staff
Director: Dr. Stephen Erickson, 617-552-3345
Office Fax: 617-552-6981
Office for Research Integrity and Compliance
Waul House 208
270 Hammond Street
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
New Developments
7/5/07
NIH conducted targeted site reviews at 18 universities in 2006. The focus of the reviews was compliance with conflict of interest regulations. The findings were very instructive and will be used as guidance in reviewing our own conflict of interest practices regarding sponsored projects. NIH found that compliance on the whole was reasonably good, but that improvement was needed in the following areas: (1) ensuring that all who are required to submit disclosures do so, (2) disclosures must be completed prior to funding applications being submitted, (3) requirements must be passed on to subrecipients and monitored during the life of subwawards, and (4) award funds may not be expended prior to conflicts being managed. We will be assessing our own practices in the coming months to ensure that BC is in compliance with sponsor requirements.RCR Program Schedule
The complete schedule of RCR events for the 2006-2007 is now available. Please visit the RCR website and click on the schedule of events.
3/02/06
NIH Data Sharing Plans:
Principal Investigators submitting applications to the National Institutes of Health may be required to include a "Data Sharing Plan" in their applications. Since this requirement has caused some confusion and uncertainty over what NIH expects to see in the Data Sharing Plan, we have written some guidance that should be helpful. If you have additional questions, please contact either Stephen Erickson, Director, Office for Research Compliance, or Joanne Scibilia, Interim Director, Office for Sponsored Programs. Guidance on Data Sharing Plans Required in NIH Grant Applications
8/30/04
As significant revision to BC’s Policy on Conflicts of Interest in Sponsored Projects has been approved. It is incorporated into the University Policy and Procedure Manual, and has been posted to this page as well as the Office for Sponsored Programs website. Click here for the disclosure form.
6/29/04
A new guide, Financial Oversight of Sponsored Projects: Principal Investigator and Departmental Administrator Responsibilities, is now available via the OSP website.
This document which is published jointly by the Office for Sponsored Programs and the Office for Research Compliance and Intellectual Property Management provides very useful guidance on the responsibilities faculty member and departmental administrators have in the management of sponsored projects.
