Ethics in Research

Responsible and ethical conduct of research is the practice of scholarship and scientific investigation with integrity. It involves the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to scientific research.

The ethical conduct of research spans all aspects of research, from authorship, conflicts of interest, and mentorship, to methodology, good clinical practice, and data integrity.

Browse these resources, offices and tools to support the responsible and ethical conduct of research in your lab.

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Conflicts of Interest
High-risk and Protocol-driven Compliance
Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR)
Training
Resource List

Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when there is a divergence between an individual’s private interests and his or her professional obligations to the University such that an independent observer might reasonably question whether the individual’s professional actions or decisions are determined by considerations of personal financial gain.

Learn more about conflict of interest disclosure policies and management resources on the Conflicts of Interests page.

High-risk and protocol-driven compliance

• Animal Studies
• Environmental Health & Safety
• Human Subjects
• Human Stem Cell Research
• Human Research Quality Assurance Program

Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) Training Requirements

Federal sponsors have increasingly recognized the importance of RECR training from the earliest stages of a researcher’s career, including those of student and postdoc trainees. Agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation have incorporated RECR training requirements into their proposal requirements and award terms and conditions. Washington University has in turn developed compliance plans for some of these requirements.

Training

Resource List