Research Compliance and Integrity Office (RCI)

About RCI

UC San Diego is committed to the highest ethical and legal standards in the conduct of research. The Office of Research Compliance and Integrity facilitates research, innovation and education, responsibly for global excellence and is responsible for broad oversight, resources and education for the integrity and compliance issues relating to the conduct of research.  It is the responsibility of all members of the UC San Diego research community to be familiar with University policies related to the conduct of research. 

The Office of Research Compliance and Integrity has oversight and responsibility over the following areas:

Conflict of Interest (COI)

The Conflict of Interest Office provides confidential assistance to faculty, staff, non-senate academics, and postdoctoral trainees to assess situations in which financial or other personal considerations may compromise, or have the appearance of compromising, their actions or judgments in the administration, management, teaching, research or performance of any professional activities at UC San Diego.

Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC)

Dual Use Research of Concern is life sciences research that can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, information, products, or technologies that could pose a significant threat with broad potential consequences to public health and safety, agricultural crops and other plants, animals, the environment, material, or national security, when misapplied.

Export Control and Facility Security

The Export Control Office identifies and manages export risks for national security and foreign policy reasons and provides export licensing in support of the research activities for university faculty, staff and students.  The Facility Security Office provides administrative services and oversight related to UC San Diego’s participation in the National Industrial Security Program.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees the university's animal care and use program and is responsible for reviewing all animal use protocols, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, inspecting animal facilities and laboratories and overseeing training and educational programs.

Research Misconduct

Research Misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results. Quality and ethical research requires adherence to the highest standards of integrity in proposing, conducting and reporting research. All individuals affiliated with UC San Diego have an ethical responsibility to act if they suspect research misconduct has occurred.

Research Compliance Monitoring Activities

The Research Compliance and Integrity (RCI) Office is modeled after the core elements of an effective compliance program.  One of the core elements includes monitoring.  In addition to the core areas noted above, monitoring of the following general research compliance activities are performed by RCI on an ongoing basis:  Good Clinical Practices (GCP) Training Compliance, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training Compliance, ClinicalTrials.gov Compliance, Foreign Influences, Conflict of Commitment and Conflict of Interest, Exceptions to Conduct Research Outside the University, and other general research compliance activities.

Watch a short video to learn more about the Office of Research Compliance and Integrity.