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Directory of Frequent USC Research Contacts

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Guide to Research at USC

Download the Guide to Research

The Guide has been developed by the Office of Compliance and the Office of Research Advancement as a ready reference on university processes for: (1) proposal submission, (2) account establishment, (3) research management, (4) closeout, and (5) research education. Please print and save a copy as a reference for your research related questions.

Sponsored Research Policies and Forms

Documents and forms relating to USC policies for proposal preparation and submission, and compliance with research protocols, can be found on the Department of Contracts and Grants website. A comprehensive list of USC policies is maintained at the University Policies site.

National Institute of Health Awardees The NIH has established a Public Access Policy, which mandates that journal articles that arise from NIH funding must be submitted to PubMed central for open access. Go to Open Access for NIH Funded Research.

Proposal Preparation

PARiS, the PreAward Research Information System, is USC's new web based system which facilitates the electronic routing, approval and submission of proposals to external sponsors, including Grants.gov. PARis replaces the Proposal Approval Record (PAR). Both PARis and the PAR require approvals from deans or designees, found here.

Important Contracts and Grants forms include:

• Rates for Fringe Benefits and Overhead
• Budget Development Guidelines
• Research Agreement Forms
• NIH Salary Cap
• Contracts and Grants Drop Box
• Open Access for NIH Funded Research
• Multiple School Division of Overhead

USC's Sponsored Projects Manual provides a step-by-step guide to the extramural funding process at USC, offering directions for the proposal, application, administration, and closing phases of sponsored research within the university:

Foundation Clearances

Investigators who are planning to submit a request for funding to a foundation or other philanthropic organization must notify the University Advancement Office of Foundation Relations, and determine whether an official clearance from is required from Foundation RelationsVisit Site.

Sponsored Research Ethics and Compliance

At the University of Southern California, ethical behavior is predicated on two main pillars: A commitment to discharging our obligations to others in a fair and honest manner, and a commitment to respecting the rights and dignity of all persons. Ethical responsibilities of members of the the university community are detailed in the USC Code of Ethics.

Further information to assist researchers in addressing compliance issues can be obtained from the USC Office of Compliance and its staffed telephone system, Compliance Hotline.

Research Ethics and Responsibility

Research ethics and responsibility are addressed through a number of compliance policies, including:

• Office for the Protection of Research Subjects
• University Park Campus Institutional Review Board
• Health Sciences Campus Institutional Review Board
• Laboratory, Radiation and Bio-safety
• Animal Resources
• Statement of Outside Interests Related To Research
• Conflict of Interest in Research: Policy and Procedure
• Institutional Conflict of Interest in Research: Policy and Procedure
• Conflict of Interest and Ethics: Policy and Procedure
• Intellectual Property Policy
• Scientific Misconduct

Establishing an Organized Research Unit (ORU) at USC

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Last updated: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 3:45pm PDT