Research Compliance
The Office of Research and Graduate Studies serves as the hub for UIW's research compliance operations. These operations include the Human Research Protection Program, Institutional Review Board for human subjects research, clinical trial registration, responsible conduct of research, the conflict of interest program, and university research policy implementation and management.
We conduct on-demand training as needed and review proposals and active projects for continued compliance.
Research Compliance Announcements
Spring 2025 DOJ Final Rule
The Department of Justice issued the Final Rule implementing the Executive Order on "Preventing Access to Americans’ Bulk Sensitive Personal Data and United States Government-Related Data by Countries of Concern" (28 CFR Part 202). The rule protects bulk U.S. sensitive personal data and government data from countries of concern (China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela) and individuals and entities under their control. The rule goes into effect April 8, 2025, with enforcement by Oct. 6, 2025.
Fall 2024 HHS Research Misconduct Common Rule
Health and Human Services has released Policies on Research Misconduct in an effort to balance the needs of research by PHS-funded agencies and organizations and the Office of Research Integrity's oversight responsibilities. Visit the ORI's website for further details. The applicable date is Jan. 1, 2026.
Fall 2022 Data Management and Sharing
Please see the UIW guidance page on creating data management plans that meet the requirement of federal agencies. Significant changes to the requirements for NIH management plans are now in effect and apply to all NIH requests for funding after Jan. 25, 2023.
Summer 2021 IACUC Service Center Agreement
UIW does not operate a research animal use program. To fulfill the needs of extramurally funded research projects involving laboratory animals, UIW has entered into a Service Center Agreement with an AAALAC-accredited animal care program in San Antonio. The agreement includes protocol review and management, access to animal care facilities at the host program, UIW facility inspection, and training of UIW personnel. The agreement expires on Aug. 31, 2024.
For more information, call (210) 805-3555.
Fall 2020 IRB Policies, Procedures, and Guidance Revisions
To better align the UIW human subjects protections program with best practices, the UIW IRB Policies, Procedures and Guidance document (previously known as the IRB Manual) has been revised and the following additional sections have been added:
| Policy/Procedure | Definition |
|---|---|
| IRB Policies and Procedures Development (pdf) | Defines the process for creating and revising IRB policies and procedures |
| Conduct of Full Board Meetings (pdf) | Defines the requirements and process for conducting full board meetings |
| Reporting to Regulatory and Oversight Agencies (pdf) | Defines the requirements and process for reporting to oversight agencies |
| Full Board Review (pdf) | Defines the requirements and process for conducting full board reviews |
| Suspension or Termination of Previously Approved Research (pdf) | Defines the requirements and process for suspending or terminating previously approved research |
| Investigations of General, Serious, or Continuing Noncompliance (pdf) | Defines general, serious, and continuing noncompliance and the process for conducting noncompliance investigations |
| Required Reporting of Unanticipated Problems and Protocol Deviations (pdf) | Defines the requirements and process for reporting unanticipated problems and protocol deviations |
In addition, the IRB website has been redesigned to provide easier access to informational, guidance, and policy materials.
For more information regarding research compliance contact:
Phone: (210) 805-3555