Research

Washington and Lee University has signed the Uniform Biological Materials Transfer Agreement, which is maintained by the Association of University Technology Managers. The agreement, list of hundreds of participating universities, and the “implementing letter” to be used to formalize safe and responsible transfers and use of biological materials.

Faculty and others at W&L intending to send or exchange biological materials should use the UBMTA implementing letter even if the recipient has not signed the agreement.

Washington and Lee University ("W&L” or “the University") encourages its faculty and staff to participate in research activities and to do so with the highest ethical standards. While the potential for conflicts of interest is understandable, faculty and staff must prevent the introduction of bias into their research. The purpose of this policy is to protect the credibility and integrity of the University’s faculty and staff and to ensure public trust and confidence in the University’s research and educational activities by identifying, understanding, and responding to conflicts of interest. This policy is based on the National Science Foundation’s Investigator Financial Disclosure Policy, which became effective October 1, 1995. It is not intended to comply with the federal regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services entitled Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for which Public Health Serve Funding is Sought (42 CFR Part 50, Subpart F, and 45 CFR Part 94), which became effective August 24, 2012 (“the PHS regulations”), and, therefore, does not apply to Investigators involved with research funded, or proposed for funding, by the Public Health Service (“PHS”) or any other sponsor that has adopted the PHS regulations.

All research involving human participants that is conducted by Washington and Lee faculty members or students must be reviewed by the Institutional Review Board for Research with Human Participants (the IRB). No matter how seemingly benign, the proposed research project must be reviewed by the IRB before relevant work commences. The IRB is available to consult with faculty, staff, or students in the early stages of project development regarding the review process and categories of review. The IRB is guided by the ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research identified in the Belmont Report.

As noted in the Financial Conflicts of Interest in Research Policy, Washington and Lee University (“W&L” or “the University”) encourages its faculty and staff to participate in research activities and to do so with the highest ethical standards. While the potential for financial conflicts of interest is understandable, faculty and staff must prevent the introduction of bias into their research. This policy is intended to comply with the federal regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services entitled Responsibility of Applicants for Promoting Objectivity in Research for which Public Health Serve Funding is Sought (42 CFR Part 50, Subpart F, and 45 CFR Part 94), which became effective August 24, 2012 (“the PHS regulations”). The purpose of this policy is to promote objectivity in research by establishing University standards that provide a reasonable expectation that the design, conduct, and reporting of research funded by the Public Health Service (“PHS”) or any other sponsor that has adopted the PHS regulations will be free from bias resulting from Investigator Financial Conflicts of Interest. This policy is predicated on the expectation that Investigators should conduct their affairs so as to avoid Financial Conflicts of Interest, and should respond appropriately when Financial Conflicts of Interest arise. To that end, this policy informs faculty and staff about situations that generate Financial Conflicts of Interest related to research and provides mechanisms for Investigators and the University to manage those Financial Conflicts of Interest that arise. Every Investigator must become familiar with, and abide by, the provisions of this policy. If a situation arises raising questions of a Financial Conflict of Interest, an Investigator should discuss the situation with the Conflicts Coordinator.

Faculty engaged in research at Washington and Lee University (“W&L” or “the University”) will adhere to the highest professional standards in the execution of their work and the reporting of its results. Misconduct in research and reporting is inconsistent with the most basic values of W&L and the international community of science. Evidence of misconduct will be investigated by the University according to the procedures adopted pursuant to this policy.