Tri-institutional Responsible Conduct of Research Program for Research Trainees

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The Rockefeller University and Weill Medical College of Cornell University sponsor this annual program in collaboration.

All participants are mandated by either institutional policy and/or federal government mandate to attend. Currently, all first-year graduate students and MD-PhD candidates are required to take this course as a pre-requisite to receiving their degrees. The federal government requires that anyone appointed to NIH funded National Research Service Award Institutional Training Programs (NRSA T32, T34) must have completed a course in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) either prior to or during the lifetime of the funding period. There must be documentation available to certify that said completion was for the equivalent course.

Course Goals and Objectives:
· Awareness: heighten awareness of trainees to ethical considerations relevant to the conduct of research
· Knowledge: inform trainees of federal, state, and institutional policies, regulations, and procedures
· Skills: provide trainees with critical analysis and problem solving skills for ethical decision-making

Course Components & Criteria:
Trainees are required to complete the eight-week online course component and attend two face-to-face sessions. If you have any questions regarding your obligation to participate, please contact your training grant director or advisor.

Logging on:

1. Go to: http://www.blackboard.cornell.edu
2. Click on the Login button on the upper left of the screen.
3. An account has been set-up for all participants
4. Username = cwid (email name all characters before the @ symbol)
5. Password = cwid (email name all characters before the @ symbol)
6. You may change your password at your discretion On the welcome screen under My Courses you will see this course listed as: medrcr: Responsible Conduct of Research
7. Click on it to enter the course
8. Start with Course Information for Navigation Tips, Overview, General Information and Guidelines for Case Analysis

Online Course Work:
Eight consecutive one-week modules, each covering a specific topic:
Week 1: Research Misconduct (inc. Whistle blowing)
Week 2: Data Management
Week 3: Use of Animal Subjects
Week 4: Use of Human Subjects
Week 5: Conflicts of Interest & Commitment
Week 6: Authorship
Week 7: Peer Review & Publication
Week 8: Collaboration & Mentoring

Assignments:
It is recommended that you complete one topic per week. As per the following schedule:
Week 1: Week of September 11th
Week 2: Week of September 18th
Week 3: Week of September 25th
Week 4: Week of October 2nd
Week 5: Week of October 9th
Week 6: Week of October 16th
Week 7: Week of October 23rd
Week 8: Week of October 30th


However, this is not necessary, just recommended. You may work in advance to accommodate travel or conflicting schedules, but all course work and assignments must be completed and posted by October 31, 2005 in order to receive a certificate of completion at the last session on November 1st. Absolute deadline for submission is Sunday, November 6th. No submissions will be accepted after that date.

Completion of mini-test for each weekly topic. After completing a topic, go to the Assignments Section. There you will find a corresponding short-answer test for each topic. You can stop and start a test at any point, or retake it if you need to improve your score. You must score at least 7 out of 10 questions correct to "pass".

You can access a video of an expert offering his or her opinion on the various case studies relating to each topic. These can be found in the Video Presentations Section. We recommend you use QuickTime to view videos. Click here for free download if needed: www.apple.com/quicktime/

Trainees will work in small groups to prepare for the final Point of View (POV) case study analysis for presentation on November 1, 2005. These groups will be assigned and online discussion will be encouraged between group members. (You will be notified by email of your group assignment two weeks prior to final session.) A special case study will be assigned for this exercise and will be available for viewing on the course website along with preparation instructions.

Evaluation Forms and Certificates: When the course has been completed on November 1, 2005 you will be asked to complete an evaluation form. Once submitted, if all other criteria have been satisfactorily met, a certificate of completion will be granted.

Attendance:

There are two mandatory face-to-face sessions: the opening Orientation and the Final POV Plenary.

Trainees will be required to sign an attendance sheet at each session.

Face-to-Face Sessions: (Mandatory attendance}
Dates may be subject to change.

Orientation:
Tuesday September 13, 2005

4:00-6:00 PM (Check-in starts at 3:30 PM)
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Uris Auditorium, 1300 York Avenue, 1st Fl.

Point of View:
Tuesday, November 1, 2005

Panel Presentation Final Session
Panel Presentation Final Session
4:00-4:30 PM - Small Groups meet
Weill Education Center, rooms A-U
1300 York Avenue, 2nd Floor
4:45-6:00 PM - POV Panel
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Uris Auditorium, 1300 York Avenue, 1st Fl.
Refreshments

Please remember that attendance at both sessions is expected in order to receive credit for course completion. Absence due to dire extenuating circumstance may be appealed to the course coordinator in writing.

All pertinent materials, policies, guidelines and instructions will be distributed at the orientation session.