Scientific Conduct Committee

The university research environment encourages scientific inquiry, protects academic freedom and discourages conduct that deviates from acceptable norms, in all levels of research. The Office of Research Advancement at the Keck School of Medicine has oversight responsibility for research conduct and arranges for the Scientific Conduct Committee to evaluate allegations of deviant conduct and determine, after a preliminary analysis, if allegations have merit.
The Scientific Conduct Committee is appointed annually, with options for repeated terms. The school's Governance Document charges the Vice Dean for Research with oversight responsibility for research conduct and provides for the committee to evaluate all allegations of deviant conduct. The committee membership is comprised of senior faculty members with significant achievement in research and with administrative experience pertinent to committee function.  The committee hears evidence and determines, after preliminary analysis, if allegations have merit. The committee meets on an ad hoc basis, meeting only when formal investigations are necessary. The determinations of the committee are transmitted to the faculty under question, the department Chairs and the Provost.

The Office of Compliance assists the USC research community in complying with a variety of rules and regulations associated with all matters of Scientific Integrity   

USC’s policies and procedures related to scientific misconduct may be found in the USC Scientific Misconduct Policy.

Scientific Conduct Committee

The Scientific Conduct Committee is appointed annually, with options for repeated terms. The School's Governance Document charges the Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs with oversight responsibility for research conduct and provides for the Committee to evaluate all allegations of deviant conduct. The Committee hears evidence and determines, after preliminary analysis, if allegations have merit. The Committee does not meet on a regular basis, meeting only when formal investigations are necessary. The determinations of the Committee are transmitted to the offending faculty, the department chairs and the Provost.

Members of the Scientific Conduct Committee

CHAIR:

Stanley Paul Azen, Ph.D.       
Assistant Dean, Research Integrity
Professor, Preventive Medicine
CHP 222  Mail Code: 9010
Telephone: (323) 442-1810
E-Mail: sazen@usc.edu
Assistant: Valerie Molina
E-Mail:  valeriem@usc.edu

MEMBERS:

Gerhard A. Coetzee, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Urology
NOR 6411  Mail Code: 9176
Telephone: (323) 865-0631
E-Mail: coetzee@usc.edu

M. Elizabeth Fini, Ph.D.
Vice Dean for Research
Office of Research Advancement
KAM 504  Mail Code: 9023
Telephone: (323) 442-7874
E-Mail: efini@usc.edu

Florence M. Hofman, Ph.D.
Professor of Pathology, Neurological Surgery and Ophthalmology
HMR 315  Mail Code: 9092
Telephone: (323) 442-1153
E-Mail: hofman@usc.edu

Thomas M. Mack, M.D.
Professor, Preventive Medicine
NOR 4453   Mail Code: 9175
Telephone: (323) 865-0445
E-Mail: tmack@usc.edu

Darcy V. Spicer, M.D.
Assistant Dean, Clinical Studies
Associate Professor, Clinical Medicine - Oncology
NOR 3454  Mail Code: 9173
Telephone: (323) 865-3904
E-Mail: dspicer@usc.edu

Gigi Petrovich
Executive Assistant
Office of Research Advancement
KAM 506  MC 9023
Telephone:  323-442-7874
E-Mail: gpetrov@usc.edu

OFFICE of COMPLIANCE:

Laura LaCorte
Associate Senior Vice President, Compliance
UGB 105  Mail Code 8007
Telephone:  (213) 740-8258
E-Mail:  llcorte@usc.edu
Assistant: Becky Biging
E-Mail:  rbiging@usc.edu

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