Division of Research
  1. UH Home
  2. Division of Research
  3. Compliance
  4. Responsible Conduct of Research

Compliance

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

The University of Houston is committed to supporting responsible and ethical conduct of research and scholarship among its faculty, staff and students. A Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Program is designed to foster a culture of integrity, accountability, and transparency in all aspects of research. Upholding the highest ethical standards is essential—not only to ensure the credibility of scientific findings but also to maintain public trust and support for UH's world class research enterprise.

This program provides researchers at all career stages with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate ethical challenges, comply with regulations, and promote responsible research practices. Whether you're working with data, human subjects, animals, or collaborative teams, the RCR Program supports you in conducting research that is rigorous, reproducible, and ethically sound.

RCR Training Requirements

Requirements for training in Responsible (and Ethical) Conduct of Research (RCR/RECR) have been issued by federal funders/sponsors, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  These requirements generally apply to all NSF and USDA awards, as well as select categories of NIH awards. 

If you are funded by NSF, NIH, or USDA, please read the training requirements carefully to ensure you remain in compliance.

2026-2027 Workshop Schedule

You can register now for the following sessions to satisfy some of the training requirements. We will also provide updates via email, our newsletter, and on the DOR website as agency-specific guidance emerges.

Fall

September 3: The Ethical Conduct of Research
November 11: Conflict of Interest and Congruency Reviews
November 11: Building Successful Mentor–Mentee Relationships
December 5: Secure and Ethical Use of Data in IRB Studies

Spring

February 4: Animal Research Protections and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
April 1: Research Misconduct
May 6: Field Research

These workshops are open to all faculty, staff and students at UH and will include topic presentations followed by Q&A.