The first C-Res meeting for the coming year will be on Monday, October 1, from 8:30 - 10:30 in Terman 217. That conference room will be our regular meeting location.
David Leith, the outgoing Chair of the Committee, and I have already met with the Dean of Research and the Provost to discuss some of our priorities for the coming year. Here are some of the topics that I expect will be on our agenda:
1. "RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH"
Federal regulations are moving in the direction of required training for all researchers, including faculty, on such issues as:
- Conflict of interest
- Intellectual property and authorship practices
- Protection of human research subjects
- Humane use of lab animals
- Preventing/reporting scientific misconduct
- Ethical decision-making
How might Stanford address such a requirement? What is the appropriate balance between a reasonable academic response to such important questions and the need to comply with regulatory requirements?
2. PROTECTION OF HUMAN RESEARCH SUBJECTS
Separate from the "Responsible Conduct of Research" initiative, there is also increasing pressure to strengthen our IRB process and assure the protection of human subjects. How can we assure adequate protection while maintaining a productive research enterprise?
3. MAXIMUM ABSENCE FROM CAMPUS/
USE OF SABBATICAL TIME
What is the appropriate response if a faculty member wants to combine a leave of absence with sabbatical time off, for example, in order to start a company? When does such absence become a conflict of commitment? How general or specific should University policy be in this regard, and how much flexibility should be retained in the schools?
4. INTER-INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AGREEMENTS
We have current examples of research agreements involving Stanford and other academic institutions. In these cases, whose policies should govern? How should responsibilities/accountabilities be determined?
5. PI ELIGIBILITY
The School of Medicine is currently studying the role of its Medical Center Line (MCL) professoriate, and may formulate a recommendation to change the University's policy on Principal Investigator eligibility. If that happens, that recommendation will come to us for consideration before going to the Senate.
While this is a full plate for the Committee, there is also the possibility that we will need to respond to issues as they come up, or to items that are carrying over from last year's Committee. We will try to manage the agenda and the schedule to make the process most effective and efficient.
We can tap significant resources to enrich our deliberations, including others on campus with the expertise to advise us. Background information and minutes for our meetings will be made available via this web site. When appropriate, pages can be restricted to Committee access only.
While I hope this message has stimulated some interest and enthusiasm for the work of the Committee this year, I also want you to know that this Committee is run by its membership. We need and expect your thoughtful input on how we will conduct our business, as well as on the various topics that we are asked to consider. I look forward to discussing this further at our first meeting on October 1, but don't hesitate to call me earlier if you wish.