The Director of Research Compliance plays a crucial role in ensuring that research activities are conducted ethically, safely, and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This individual is responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure that research activities are conducted in accordance with ethical principles, institutional policies, federal regulations, and sponsor requirements. They work closely with researchers to provide guidance on regulatory requirements related to human subjects protection, animal welfare, biosafety, export control, conflict of interest disclosure, data management and security.
The Director of Research Compliance also serves as the primary point of contact for regulatory agencies such as the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) among others. They oversee the preparation of reports required by these agencies including Institutional Review Board (IRB) reports or Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) reports. The Director also ensures that all personnel involved in research activities receive appropriate training on regulatory requirements related to their specific roles. Overall the role is critical in ensuring that research is conducted ethically while adhering to all legal guidelines set forth by governing bodies within the industry.