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RECR Training - NIH

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The NIH requires that institutions have a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in RECR to senior investigators, faculty, research staff, undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers participating in supported projects. 

Researchers supported by certain National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants are required to complete in-person Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR) training.

The in-person RECR training requirement applies to all study personnel, including Principal Investigators (PIs), trainees, fellows, and project staff associated with specific awards (see below).

1. Institutional Research Training Grants

  • T15, T32, T34, T35, T36, T37, T90/R90, TL1, TU2, U2R

2. Individual Fellowship Awards

  • F05, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F37, F38

3. Career Development Awards (Institutional & Individual)

  • K01, K02, K05, K07, K08, K12, K18, K22, K23, K24, K25, K26, K30, K99/R00, KL1, KL2

4. Research Education Grants

  • R25, D43, D71

5. Dissertation Research Grants

  • R36

If your NIH grant is not listed above:

  • You are still required to complete CITI RECR training as a Principal Investigator; the in-person requirement does not apply to you.

  • You are also responsible for providing discipline-appropriate, experiential training in RECR topics to:

    • Students

    • Trainees

    • Research staff

    • Volunteers working on your project

Format Requirement

NIH mandates that RECR training for these grants include a substantial in-person component (e.g., workshops, seminars, or instructor-led discussions). Online-only training is not sufficient for NIH awards.

Core Areas of Responsible Conduct of Research (RECR)

NIH requires training to cover key areas essential to ethical and compliant research. These include:

  • Data acquisition, management, sharing, and ownership

  • Human subjects protections (required if applicable)

  • Animal welfare (required if applicable)

  • Conflict of interest and commitment

  • Peer review practices

  • Publication practices and responsible authorship

  • Collaborative research

  • Mentor/trainee responsibilities

  • Research misconduct

  • Intellectual property

  • Laboratory safety

Additional Information

Frequency of Training:

  • RECR training must be completed:

    • At least once every four years, and

    • At each new career stage (e.g., undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, faculty)

Need Assistance?

If you are unsure whether your award requires in-person RECR training or need help identifying appropriate training opportunities, please contact the Research Protections Office at compliance@appstate.edu.