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1. Introduction  
2. Setting up Office and Research Space
2.1 What should I do before I get to UCSF?
2.2 What should I do once I arrive at UCSF?
2.3 What Research Support Services are available?
3. Obtaining Regulatory Committee Approvals
3.1 Making Sense of Regulations
3.2 What is Research Online
3.3 Working with Biologicals
3.4 Working with Chemicals
3.5 Working with Radioactive Materials
3.6 Working with Radioactive Materials in Humans
3.7 Working with Controlled Substances
3.8 Working with Animals
3.9 Involving Human Subjects in Research
3.10 Serving on Committees
3.11 Working with Affiliates
4. Finding, Obtaining, and Managing Money
4.1 Fiscal Responsibility
4.2 Pre-award: How do I find and ask for funds?
4.3 Post-award: How do I manage funding awards?
4.4 Working with Industry
4.5 Minimizing Financial Conflicts of Interest
4.6 Intellectual Property
5. Being Responsible
5.1 Ethical Conduct of Research
5.2 Authorship and Publication
5.3 Confidentiality and Privacy
5.4 Data Management: Research Records
5.5 Training in Responsible Conduct of Research
5.6 Guidelines for Lab Notebooks
6. Leaving or Transferring Funds/Specimens Out of UCSF
 
Appendices
I. UCSF Acronyms
II. UCSF Research Links
III. Whistleblower Policies & Procedures
 
School of Medicine Clinical and Translational Research

THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH

RESEARCH INVESTIGATOR HANDBOOK

2. SETTING UP THE OFFICE AND RESEARCH SPACE:

2.1 What should I do before I get to UCSF?

• Research and office space
• Research regulatory approvals and requirements
• Research funding


Given the complex nature of the university environment, you should establish your research program before you arrive at UCSF. Investigators require research space, regulatory approvals, and funding to conduct research. The sooner you obtain these required elements, the sooner you can begin your research.

Research and Office Space:

You can expedite your move into your office and research spaces by working with these UCSF departments before starting your program:

• 

Your home department: Contact the department’s manager/director. This person will provide floor plans, keys, security codes, email accounts, computer IT information, telecommunications, and coordinate moving services and installation of equipment. They will serve as your primary contact for all renovations, repairs, and space needs for your research program. On your behalf, they will coordinate with other UCSF departments that provide these services.

   
•  Office of Research:
  •  Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEH&S): Provides consultation on laboratory design and guidance on safety requirements for specialized research equipment

 
Departmental Safety Advisor (DSA): OEH&S assigns DSAs to each Department/Unit to serve as a single point of contact for all of their health and safety needs. Contact your DSA as soon as possible to determine if there will be any special requirements or restrictions for the use of your research space or your research materials.
• 
Laboratory Animal Resource Center (LARC): If you will be transferring animals to UCSF, contact LARC for space availability and quarantine requirements for housing vertebrate research animals. You must have animal housing assigned to your project before transferring animals to UCSF.
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Research Regulatory Approvals and Requirements:

Most of the regulatory committees will not approve your application until your laboratory research space has been cleared for use by the OEH&S. However, you can start the application process without this clearance by working with the following:

• 

Your home department:
•  To establish your research accounts,
•  To provide guidance on hiring research staff for your project,
•  To offer other human resource services (employment, benefits, payroll).

They are your primary contact for guidance on UC academic policies for faculty as well as departmental or school policies.

   
•  Office of Research:
  •  Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEH&S): Contact OEH&S for guidance on safety requirements for all laboratory research and use of hazardous materials at UCSF.
    • 

Departmental Safety Advisor (DSA): They are assigned by OEH&S to your research space. Specific DSA services include:

      •  Advice on transfers of laboratory equipment, supplies, and research materials (biological, chemical, radioactivity, controlled substances) to UCSF.
      •  Serve as your primary contact for all safety issues.
• 
Audit of your initial laboratory setup for safety compliance. You will need this clearance before the regulatory committees can give final approval for your research.

 
Determination of what type of compliance-related training is required before research is allowed to begin.
  • 

Technical Committees: Technical Committees oversee the use of biologicals, chemicals, controlled substances, and all use of radioactive materials. If you have any questions, please contact your Departmental Safety Advisor (DSA), the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at 476-1300, or the Technical Committees Coordinator. Your DSA should be contacted first.

If you have specific technological questions about biological or radiological hazards or controlled substances, please contact the following hazard specialists:
• Biosafety Officer: 476-2097
• Radiation Safety Officer: 476-5303
• Controlled Substances Program: 502-8653

     
  •  Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC): Contact for guidance and applications for animal research. You must have IACUC approval for animal research before initiating animal studies.
     
  •  Laboratory Animal Resource Center (LARC): Contact LARC to obtain housing for vertebrate animals, proximity cards to animal housing, keys, veterinary services, training, and order animals. You will not be allowed to order, house, or use animals without IACUC approval.
     
  •  Human Research Protection Program (HRPP): If you will be transferring human subjects research protocols to UCSF, you must contact the HRPP before initiating this research at UCSF for mandatory review and approval. If you will be starting a new project, you must have HRPP approval before initiating human subjects research at UCSF. The HRPP provides extensive guidance on all human subjects research issues.
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Research Funding:

•  Your Home department can provide information on available intramural funds at UCSF, as well as assist you in your transfer of current funding, and in the preparation of your submissions for new sponsored project awards and gifts.
   
• 

Office of Sponsored Research: (Contracts & Grants Division and Industry Contracts Division)

  •  Will assist you in transferring your existing sponsored project awards (government, industry, non-profits) to UCSF and in the submittal of new applications for sponsored project awards.
• 
Will provide sources, applications, and deadlines for new extramural funds.