The University requires moral and ethical behavior and integrity in all research performed by its faculty, students and staff. The RPP is accountable for assuring conformity with both federal and university research protection policies and procedures. The following RPP divisions promote and maintain appropriate management and oversight of SCSU research activities according to federal codes and institutional requirements.
The Office of Research Integrity (ORI)
The ORI advances and monitors the responsible conduct of research for all SCSU research projects. The office acts on substantive allegations of research misconduct and serves as the Office of The Research Integrity Officer (RIO).
The Institutional Review Board (IRB)
The IRB safeguards the rights and welfare of human participants in research. Investigators engaging in human participant research must submit a project proposal which will be examined for requisite compliance and assigned a disposition. Recruitment of human participants for research cannot proceed without IRB approval or exemption.
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is governed by a system of policies set forth by the federal Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, Public Health Service and the United States Department of Agriculture. The IACUC oversees and routinely evaluates all components and facilities related to vertebrate animal care and use… assists institutions in caring for and using animals in ways judged to be scientifically, technically, and humanely appropriate… assists investigators in fulfilling their obligation to plan and conduct animal experiments in accord with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles.
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
The mission of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) of Southern Connecticut State University is to ensure that all research and teaching laboratory protocols at the University that use or produce including but not limited to; biohazardous organisms, recombinant DNA (rDNA), synthetic nucleotides, infectious agents (pathogens), biological toxins, human and non-human primate tissues, body fluids, blood, blood byproducts, and cell lines, animal remains and insects that may harbor zoonotic pathogens or select agents, is classified at the appropriate biosafety level and done in accordance with all appropriate guidelines, regulations and good safety practices in full compliance with the current editions of NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines) issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and will ensure that federal, state, and local regulations related to the use of biological materials are followed.
Educational Resources Division
The Educational Resources Division provides links to appropriate related areas sites and hard copy information on a wide variety of research protection and responsible research conduct information. Text books, pertinent articles, federal codes and guidance, The Nuremberg Code, The Belmont Report, The Helsinki Declaration, conference and workshop proceedings, audio and video CDs, newsletters, and PowerPoint presentations are among some of the resources available.