The Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC)

Mission Statement

The mission of The Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC) is to promote the ethical conduct of research. ORIC serves the UTSA research community by providing independent oversight in coordinating institution-wide research compliance policy, procedures and training through partnering with researchers. ORIC works with researchers to navigate the complex maze of federal, state, and local regulations that impact research undertaken at academic institutions. ORIC facilitates research integrity in the following areas: the use of humans and animals in research, biosafety, time and effort reporting, conflict of interest in Research & Intellectual Property, export controls, and the responsible conduct of research.

What's New

New Web Based System for UTSA Researchers to File Conflict of Interest Disclosures Online

The Office of the Vice President for Research at UTSA has introduced a new electronic system to provide full lifecycle support for conflict of interest disclosures for researchers and institutional officials - from initial submission and modifications to annual review.

All UTSA researchers are required to file their annual disclosures by February 15th, 2010.

Quick Facts

• How is Research defined?
  
  A systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed or developed to contribute to generalizable knowledge (45 CFR 46.102(d)) including behavioral and social-sciences research. This term encompasses basic and applied research and product development utilizing either quantitative or qualitative methods.


• Why must financial interests be disclosed?
  
  The University of Texas at San Antonio is committed to ensuring that research and scholarly activities are carried out under the highest standards of ethical conduct and to preserving the public's trust in the integrity of the activities the University undertakes.


• Who must disclose financial interests?
  
  All UTSA Researchers (employees) engaged in funded or unfunded research as well as sponsored activities/programs so this includes post docs, graduate assistants, and others having direct responsibility for the design, conduct or reporting of research, and any other person specified by a Department Chair or Dean. Disclosures include information on financial interests for themselves and their spouse/domestic partner, dependent children and other persons in their household. This includes those individuals who will be named in an informed consent form for projects involving human research subjects.

Before you can file the annual disclosure with the Conflict of Interest Electronic Disclosure system, you must complete the mandatory compliance acknowledgements at: http://mytraining.utsa.edu

If you have any questions, please contact the eRA Help Desk at: vprhelp@utsa.edu or 458-7805.

COI Help Lab

Beginning March 1, 2010 the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC) is offering help sessions every Thursdays from 2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. at Room 4.01.08 in the Multidisciplinary Building. Bring in an electronic copy of any materials with which you need assistance. Get the answers to all your COI questions.

Contact the COI Office to arrange a workshop for your department or your research group on a topic related to conflicts of interest in research & intellectual property and your research area.

IRB Help Lab

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is offering help sessions every Tuesday & Wednesday from 2:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. at Room 4.01.84 in the Multidisciplinary Building. Bring in an electronic copy of any materials with which you need assistance. Get the answers to all your IRB questions.

IRB Help Lab Information