Office of Research Compliance

The Office of Research Compliance works with offices responsible for specific components of research compliance and university research oversight committees such as the Institutional Review Board, Institutional Biosafety, Institutional Animal Care and Use, and the Financial Conflict of Interest committees to ensure the responsible conduct of research and compliance with university policies and federal regulations related to research activity. The office oversees development and implementation of policies, procedures, and educational activities which satisfy university policies, state, and federal regulations governing the conduct of research. The Office of Research Compliance is responsible for monitoring regulatory updates and making recommendations to the university to ensure compliance.

North Texas Regional Institutional Review Board

The North Texas Regional Institutional Review Board (IRB) operates a regional human research protection program to review and approve all research involving human subjects. This program has two important components: the supporting unit for Protecting Human Subjects (often called the “IRB Office”) and the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Visit the North Texas Regional Institutional Review Board.

Animal Care and Use Committee

The University of North Texas Health Science Center Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee is a research oversight committee charged with the responsibility of ensuring the proper care and use of animals in research, testing, and education. The IACUC also provides assistance to investigators in fulfilling their obligation to plan and conduct animal experiments in accord with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles. Note that the IACUC is different from DLAM which manages and maintains animals used in research.

Visit the Animal Research website.

Research Conflict of Interest

The term “conflict of interest in research” refers to situations in which financial or other personal considerations may compromise, or have the appearance of compromising a researcher’s professional judgment in conducting or reporting research.

Federal regulations, state laws and University policies recognize that researchers may have financial interests in research sponsors and/or in entities with business interests closely related to their research.

UNTHSC is committed to ensuring an open and productive environment in teaching, patient care, and research. However, the ever-increasing complexity of our society and the various relationships between researchers and outside institutions require attention to ensure the avoidance of real or apparent conflict of interest issues.

To assist researchers manage and navigate this often complex area, the Office of Research Compliance has developed training programs, policies and procedures to try and keep this “simple but correct.”

Visit the Research Conflict of Interest website.

Contact

Tania Ghani, MS, CIP
Director, Research Compliance
(817) 735-2038
Tania.Ghani@unthsc.edu

This page was last modified on November 13, 2019