Rigor and Reproducibility
Rigor and Reproducibility Guidelines
In 2016, NIH announced the Rigor and Reproducibility policy to better ensure researchers use unbiased and well-controlled experimental design, methodology, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of results. The policy focuses on four important aspects: rigor of the prior research, scientific rigor (design), biological variables, and authentication of research reagents and resources.
Resources:
- NIH reviewer guidance on rigor and transparency (PDF)
- NIH guidance and infographics
- NIH NOT-OD-18-228, Updates to Application Instructions and Review Criteria for Research Grant Applications
- University of Colorado School of Medicine's New NIH Requirements for 2016 Grant Proposals presentation. The presentation addresses: the timeline of recent and upcoming NIH changes for 2016; rigor and transparency; vertebrate animals; a summary of other recent changes
- University of Rochester Medical Center CTSI's Rigor, Transparency and Reproducibility presentation. The 2016 presentation addresses: rigor, scientific premise; reproducibility, quality system in your lab; transparency; robust and unbiased results, sex factored into design; authentication of key biological and/or chemical resources
The following boilerplate is intended for people who have taken or plan to take the UCLA course, M261 "Responsible Conduct of Research Involving Humans":
As a __(insert)__ trainee, I plan to take a course in the responsible conduct of research. The main UCLA course, entitled “Responsible Conduct of Research Involving Humans” (M261), is a didactic course of 20 hours taught over one quarter with expert faculty members leading discussions in a particular topic area. Students are expected to read course materials and actively participate in classroom discussions of relevant case scenarios. Topics covered include Responsible Conduct of Research, Professionalism and the Ethical Imperatives of Clinical Research, Protection of Research Subjects-- the IRB process, Managing the Practice of Research, Conflicts of Interest, Genetics and Stem Cell Research, Community and International Research, Misconduct, and Conflicts of Interest.
To build upon the above training, I will continue my responsible conduct of research training with my mentor, __(insert)__, while actively conducting my research project. My mentor will meet with me on a __(insert)__ basis and there will be additional collaborative meetings with colleagues to address specific related research topics. Some of those topics will include authorship, sharing of data, and data management.
The UCLA CTSI is strongly committed to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards in research endeavors and ensures all investigators, research staff, and students are educated and remain current in “best practices” in the responsible and ethical conduct of research. The comprehensive mentoring and training activities in this area will thoroughly prepare me to accomplish the proposed research and educational training activities during the period of this award and into the future as I renew such training every four years.
(optional content) Other formats include both on-line and in-person opportunities for education. The CITI training platform for the Responsible Conduct of Research includes both a UCLA-specific RCR course as well as the CITI-provided course. Through an on-line training environment, University constituents self-identify for most of their required research training needs. The UCLA Office of the Human Research Protection Program, the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), and the Health System Office of Compliance offer seminar series, covering topics such as “Protecting Encryption Research Data” and “Obtaining and Documenting Informed Consent” to which all trainees are invited.