Research Ethics Course
BIMS 7100 / Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
Spring 2026, Feb. 10 – April 14
All sessions meet on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30-5:00 PM EST. Five (5) in person sessions will be at the School of Medicine and five (5) sessions will be on zoom. Review the schedule for the location for specific session carefully the week/day prior to each session.
Course Overview
This course covers topics in Research Ethics/Responsible Conduct of Research and fulfills the requirements of the NIH RCR Mandate. The course is case-based and practical. The goal is to have course participants grapple with complex RCR issues, especially through cases, and to take away important points from each session as well as where to turn for more information.
The course strives to take a learner-centered approach. Sessions will begin with an overview of the topic at hand. Participants will then go into breakouts for small group discussion of relevant case studies/questions. The whole group will reconvene at the end of the period to share and discuss interesting points that arose in individual small groups. Faculty participate in the course as presenters and to share their perspectives in discussion.
2026 Course Syllabus
- Graduate students register for the course BIMS 7100 through SIS
- Post-doctoral students may register for the class through the Community Scholars Program in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS). Additional information can be found at the following website: https://www.scps.virginia.edu/class-registration/community-scholar
“Reflection on responsible conduct of research should recur throughout a scientist’s career: at the undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, predoctoral, postdoctoral, and faculty levels. . . . Instruction must be undertaken at least once during each career stage, and at a frequency of no less than once every four years . . . To meet the above requirements, instruction in responsible conduct of research may take place, in appropriate circumstances, in a year when the trainee, fellow or career award recipient is not actually supported by an NIH grant.” (Notice Number: NOT-OD-10-019).
Course Leader
Kristen Schwendinger, JD, MPA, CCEP
Director of Research Integrity and Ethics
Research Integrity Officer
University of Virginia
Office of the Vice-President for Research
Email: amd8hc@virginia.edu