UF Research Integrity offers multiple resources to support and promote ethical research practices and help ensure UF research administrators and their departments remain compliant with federal, state, and university policies.
UF Research Integrity is responsible for the following areas: reviewing and facilitating the investigation of research misconduct or other research integrity deviations; foreign activities disclosure; global support; export controls; and research conflicts of interest. UF Research Integrity also coordinates with various compliance offices and committees, including the Institutional Review Board (IRB); the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC); the Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research (ICBR), and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).
Research Misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results. Learn about UF’s research misconduct policy, the allegation review process, and tips for Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training and Responsible Research Best Practices by visiting the Research Misconduct page.
UF Research Integrity (UFRI) is available to support researchers as they embark on international research projects. We are the central point of contact within UF’s core offices to provide guidance to UF faculty, staff, and students who are conducting international research or other sponsored work abroad, as well as when they begin to form new international collaborations. Visit the International Research Projects page for guidance on travel advisories, planning and budgeting, and additional online resources.
UFRI is also available to help faculty and staff navigate the new and changing regulations around these international relationships. There is growing concern regarding certain agreements and activities between university faculty members and various foreign universities and institutions, the existence of which may have a negative impact on funding decisions for individual researchers. For more information and guidance visit the International Engagement and Collaboration page.
Export controls are a complex set of U.S. laws and regulations that govern the transfer of technology, information, and commodities overseas or to a foreign national within the U.S. Export controls may come into play not only in research but also in activities unrelated to research, including travel abroad, international shipping, hosting international visitors, business collaborations, and partnerships. To learn more about UF’s export controls policy and how export controls apply to you, please visit the Export Controls page.
Researchers may have financial interests in research sponsors and/or in entities with business interests closely related to their research. UF’s Research Conflict of Interest Program (RCOI) reviews and manages Significant Financial Interests that have the potential to bias research.
For guidance on what, when, and how to disclose, please visit the Research Conflict of Interest page.
UF Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) review all research involving human subjects to ensure the welfare and rights of research participants are protected as mandated by federal and state laws, local policies, and ethical principles. To submit a project for review through myIRB and learn about required training, please visit the IRB Policies, Guidelines and Guidance page.
The Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) is a federally mandated committee that oversees UF’s animal program, facilities, and procedures to ensure compliance with all regulations, policies and standards in place to protect animal welfare. IACUC members review all requests for approval to use vertebrate animals. The IACUC also conducts inspections of all areas where animals are housed and used. To learn about the responsibilities of investigators using animals as well as instructions, standards, and guidelines for using animals, visit the IACUC website.
The Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research (ICBR) is the University of Florida’s premium core research facility, providing the latest in biotechnology instrumentation. UF ICBR provides expertise through seven core service laboratories: Bioinformatics, Cytometry, Electron Microscopy, Gene Expression & Genotyping, Monoclonal Antibody, NextGen DNA Sequencing, and Proteomics & Mass Spectrometry. Search their range of services, instruments and software by visiting the ICBR website.
Does your research involve recombinant DNA molecules/synthetic nucleic acid? All such research must be registered with the UF Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). The UF IBC also reviews and approves registrations for the possession and use of BSL-3 pathogens and USDA/HHS Select Agents. To submit a protocol for IBC review and review procedures for working with biohazardous materials, visit the Institutional Biosafety Committee website.
Each topic contains a link to its relevant policy. All UF policies and regulations are located on the UF General Counsel website.