NIH RCR Training Requirement

The National Institutes of Health require training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) for all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award (individual or institutional), research education grant, and dissertation research grant, or other grant programs with a training component that requires instruction in RCR as noted in the Funding Opportunity Announcement.  The NIH recently updated the RCR training requirement. The updated requirement applies to all new and renewal applications submitted on or after January 25, 2010, and to all continuation applications with deadlines on or after January 1, 2011. For details, review the NIH Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research.

To satisfy the NIH RCR training requirement, some in-person training is generally required; on-line RCR training by itself is not sufficient.  Students in the College of Physicians and Surgeons are generally required to attend a one-semester course on responsible conduct of research.  For short-term training and research education programs (such as those lasting six or fewer months), online training is generally sufficient.

Should you be interested in auditing an RCR training course at Columbia, please ask the instructor whether auditors will receive documentation of their course completion in order to satisfy the NIH RCR requirement.

Senior fellows and career award recipients (including F33, K02, K05, and K24 awardees) may fulfill the requirement for RCR instruction by participating as lecturers and discussion leaders.  Contact the Office of Research Compliance and Training for information.