Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program

The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program is a subscription service providing research ethics education to all members of the research community. To participate fully, learners must be affiliated with Delaware State University.

CITI Program offers

The Basic and Refresher Courses in the Protection of Human Research Subjects.

• Biomedical research focus
• Social and behavioral research focus 

The Good Clinical Practice and ICH Course.

• 15 module course for investigators conducting studies with investigational drugs and devices. 

The Health Information Privacy and Security (HIPS) Course.

• The Course can be customized for:
  • Clinicians
  • Clinical investigators
  • Students
  • Fundraisers
  • Marketers 

Laboratory Animal Welfare Course

And
  
The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course

Responsible Conduct of Research Training and Oversight Plan

I. Statement of Intent – The National Science Foundation, in its Grantee Standards states:

The responsible and ethical conduct of research (RCR) is critical for excellence, as well as public trust, in science and engineering. Consequently, education in RCR is considered essential in the preparation of future scientists and engineers. Section 7009 of the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o–1) requires that ‘‘each institution that applies for financial assistance from the [National Science] Foundation for science and engineering research or education describe in its grant proposal a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers participating in the proposed research project.”  ¹

a. All faculty, staff, students and volunteers working on NSF-supported research projects will be required to successfully complete the RCR training modules with a score of 80% or more before their employment contracts will be approved. Evidence of approval in the form of a CITI certificate will be required.

II. Oversight

a. The Office of Sponsored Programs will be responsible for oversight of the implementation of this plan and enforcing compliance with completion of the CITI RCR training modules before approving employment contracts on NSF-funded projects.

b. All claims of research misconduct will be handled by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, pursuant to the policy on Standards for the Conduct of Scholarly Research.

The Office of Sponsored Programs will receive periodic reports from the training provider, CITI.  These reports will be maintained as official University records.
 

¹National Science Foundation, Award Administration Standards effective January 1, 2010, Chapter VI.B., downloaded December 14, 2009 from http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf10_1/aag_4.jsp.