CITI Program - Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course

Federal grant proposals (all proposals to NSF, training proposals for NIH) normally include a requirement that all trainees are provided with instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). An RCR program normally covers these areas: ethics, conflict of interest, responsible authorship, policies for handling misconduct, data management, data sharing, and policies regarding the use of human and animal subjects. UCLA utilizes the CITI-hosted Responsible Conduct of Research Course for UCLA.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) require certain categories of researchers to receive RCR training. RCR is increasingly viewed as an essential component of training, regardless of a researcher's source of funding. RCR consists of a basic course, refresher course, communicating research findings course, and facilitator guides. It is suitable for any person involved in research ranging from upper-level undergraduates to established faculty. Particular emphasis is given to the educational needs of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. RCR can provide students or other researchers with foundational knowledge that can enhance the quality of in-person or virtual training. These courses were written and peer-reviewed by experts.

For more information, please visit the CITI Program's RCR site.

Last updated
November 15, 2023