Research Compliance and Ethics

Cleveland State University is committed to the academic freedom of our researchers and scholars, while upholding the highest ethical standards of integrity and honesty. Conducting research ethically and responsibly requires active oversight by investigators, research staff and students, and administrators. As stated by the NIH, "The integrity of research is based on adherence to core values-objectivity, honesty, openness, fairness, accountability, and stewardship."

Responsible conduct of research (RCR) training is expected to be completed by all faculty and staff researchers. CSU utilizes the Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) platform for this training. RCR training must be completed prior to submission of a research proposal to NSF or NIH. Refresher training is required every subsequent two years thereafter.

The federal regulatory landscape regarding foreign influence on academic research continues to evolve as federal agencies update their policies and regulations. As a proactive measure, Cleveland State has added a new module to our CITI training program to help researchers better understand foreign influence concerns. The module Undue Foreign Influence: Risks and Mitigations can be added to your CITI account by selecting it in the enrollment questions.

If you have research compliance or research ethics concerns, please contact Ben Ward, Director of Research Development and Ethics and CSU's Research Integrity Officer.