Postdoctoral Training (RCR-Responsible Conduct of Research)
Responsible Conduct of Research
(formerly the PPSI – Program in the Practice of Scientific Investigation)
Spring 2008 Course
The Division of Medical Ethics in the Department of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School is pleased to announce the Spring 2008 course offering in the Responsible Conduct of Research (formerly the Program in the Practice of Scientific Investigation) for Quad graduate students, fellows, staff, and investigators who are required to or should meet the training requirements set forth by the Dean’s Office.
PLEASE NOTE: This Spring, under new leadership, the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) course is undergoing a transition to a new format. This change reflects a conscientious effort to move RCR training from a “compliance” model to a more participatory exercise that aims to promote integrity in science by building skills with senior medical school faculty and administrators to critically address ethical issues that arise in the course of a research career. We anticipate offering an expanded RCR course with open enrollment starting in the Fall of 2008 that will run throughout the academic year and thereafter on an annual basis. Priority will be given this Spring to those applicants who demonstrate a need to immediately complete RCR training.
Because of this transition phase, we are limiting enrollment in the Spring course to 50 students. If you are able to postpone completing this course until Fall 2008 or later, we strongly encourage you to do so. In order to ensure that those who must meet the requirement do (due to pending completion of graduate studies, fellowship or grant submission to funding agency), we request that all applicants to this Spring’s course specify via an email to RCR@hms.harvard.edu no later than April 23rd, 2008, the following as applicable :
- year of graduate study or fellowship year and anticipated completion of same or number of years as faculty member;
- attendance at any PPSI course offerings in prior years (please specify number of lectures attended) and/or prior completion of a certificate course in RCR;
- if you have submitted a grant that requires evidence of RCR training (please specify when the grant was submitted, or when you anticipate receiving a score/decision, and whether or not you have been asked to show evidence of RCR training);
- any other reasons warranting completion of the course this Spring
- preferred dates of attendance at the discussion lunches (see below), and/or any dates you cannot attend
Summary of New Course details (complete details will be made available to those accepted and registered for the course):
Attendance at 2 of 4 discussion sessions offered on the following dates:
- Wednesday, April 30, 2008 – Regulation and Misconduct
- Tuesday, May 6, 2008 – Conflicts of Interest/Data Management
- Tuesday, June 3, 2008 – Authorship/Peer Review/Publication Practices
- Wednesday, June 18, 2008 – Mentoring/Trainee Responsibilities/Collaboration
All sessions will run from 12:30pm-2:00pm in the Countway Library, 10 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA. Lunch will be provided.
Completion of all required reading materials and short writing exercises and a short multiple-choice exam drawing from the readings – will be password accessible on the web after enrollment period ends.
IF INTERESTED, PLEASE APPLY FOR THE COURSE BY APRIL 23RD, NOON. NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT THE INFORMATION REQUESTED ABOVE. YOU WILL BE INFORMED OF ACCEPTANCE TO THE COURSE, ASSIGNMENT OF DISCUSSION DATES, AND BE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE READING MATERIALS AND ASSIGNMENTS BY 5PM ON APRIL 25TH.
Program Objectives
The Program in the Practice of Scientific Investigation (PPSI) was established in 1990 by the Division of Medical Ethics to provide education in the responsible conduct of research for post-doctoral research fellows. In 1999, Dean Martin mandated completion of the PPSI for all post-doctoral fellows working in laboratories in the Harvard Medical School Quad, regardless of funding source.
The PPSI offers education in the responsible conduct of research to all post-doctoral fellows working in HMS labs.
Program Director
Sadath A. Sayeed J.D., M.D.Contact Information
Division of Medical Ethics641 Huntington Avenue, 2nd Floor
Boston, MA 02115
Email: RCR@hms.harvard.edu
Phone: 617-432-2570
Fax: 617-432-3721