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Stage
Scientific Integrity
Topic

Research Quality Management Program (RQMP)

Need assistance with the Research Quality Management Program?

Image showing the four pillars of Research Quality; Research administration, best practice, accountability and data

The Research Quality Management Program (RQMP) was developed to innovate and implement best practices for Research Quality, Scientific Integrity, Data Management and Accountability across Duke University. The primary aims of the RQMP are 1) to build an infrastructure at the unit level that facilitates collaboration between individual researchers and research teams, the unit, and the broader institution, and 2) to strengthen research excellence within a research quality management community.

Each school/department, center or institute joining the RQMP designates a Research Quality Team (RQT), comprised of a Research Quality Officer (faculty research/data lead) and a Lead Research Administrator (administrative lead). The RQT is accountable to DOSI and the Office of Research Administration with regard to implementation and communication of best practices for data quality, data management, research integrity and accountability within their unit. This unit-level infrastructure provides each school the flexibility to tailor workflows that work best for the unique needs of the unit, while being connected to other units, in order to leverage innovations and efficiencies from each other.

The RQMP central office develops yearly milestones for the units that address emerging institutional policies, continuing education and training goals.

Please reach out to RQMP@duke.edu if you have questions or are interested in participating in the program.

Research Quality Teams

Each SOM department, center and institute will designate a Research Quality Team to (RQT) ensure implementation of best practices with regards to quality, integrity and accountability in research.

The specific makeup of the RQT within each department, center or institute will be at the discretion of the unit. However, all teams will have at minimum, a Research Quality Officer (RQO) and a Lead Research Administrator (LRA). These two individuals will be responsible to the Duke Office of Scientific Integrity (DOSI), Office of Research Administration (ORA) as well as the research/administration leadership in their unit.

RQMP and overlap

Each unit’s escalation pathway for identifying and resolving situations of scientific, budgetary, and commitment overlap is maintained in PART B of their Research Quality Escalation Plan. Information to support implementation of the plan is located in the "Identifying and resolving overlap" section on the Overlap page hosted by ORA. 

As of July 1, 2024, the Overlap Review and Resolution Form must be completed to document scientific overlap review and how the issues will be managed to resolution.

Scholarly Culture and Accountability Plans (SCAPs)

Primary accountability for the veracity of research lies with the principal investigator and the co-authors of the investigator's scholarly publications. However, it is the unit director (chair or institute/center director) who is responsible for setting and maintaining standards and ensuring a culture of quality, integrity, and open discourse.

All faculty and staff engaged in research are required to attest to the SCAP for the School/Dept/Center/Institute of their primary affiliation.

Create a SCAP

Details on how to create a SCAP can be found here.

Read a SCAP

Using the drop-down list below, chose the link for the appropriate unit SCAP to bring you to the document for review. Some links are only viewable if accessed via Duke VPN or secure login. Please contact RQMP@duke.edu if any of the SCAP links are broken or require updating. 

Schools of Medicine and Nursing SCAPs

Anesthesiology

Biochemistry

Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (B&B)

Brain Imaging and Analysis Center (BIAC)

Cell Biology

Center for Study of Aging and Human Development

Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI)

Dermatology

Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) must access URL via VPN

Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI) must access URL via VPN

Duke Early Phase Clinical Research Unit (DEPRU)

Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI)

Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI)

Duke Molecular Physiology Institute (DMPI) must access URL via VPN

Emergency Medicine

Family Medicine &Community Health (FMCH)

Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences

Heart Center

Immunology

Marcus Center for Cellular Cures (MC3)

Medicine

Molecular Genetics and Microbiology (MGM)

Neurobiology

Neurology

Neurosurgery

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN)

Ophthalmology

Orthopaedic Surgery restricted access

Pathology

Pediatrics

Pharmacology and Cancer Biology (PCB)

Population Health Sciences (PHS)

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Radiation Oncology

Radiology

School of Nursing (SoN)

Surgery

Please note: Accessing unit SCAPs via the links above does not constitute attesting to a SCAP. To attest, use the SCAP attestation survey link provided below.

Attest to a SCAP

Use this survey link (updated January 2023) to complete SCAP attestation.

RQMP Milestones

Year 6 (July 2024 - June 2025)

Schools of Medicine and Nursing

Milestones for Year 6 of the Research Quality Management Program (RQMP)

  • Review and update the Operational Plan - Due 12/6/24
  • Choose a Research Quality SMART Goal that Improves the Unit's Ability to Locate, Trace and Attribute Data to the Individual who Generated or Collected it - Due 12/6/24
  • Attend RQT Training - Due 3/28/25
  • Administer a Minimum of One Research Quality Training Event to Researchers Within the Unit - Due 3/28/25
  • Develop and Implement a Data Offboarding Checklist for Investigators (PI, co-PI, fellow) Supported by a Standard Workflow Within the Unit, including the RQT's Ability to Locate Data on Request - Due 5/30/25
  • Submit Evidence of SMART Goal Completion - Due 5/30/25

Year 6 Milestones Detailed Handout Document

Year 5 (July 2023 - June 2024)

Schools of Medicine and Nursing

Milestones for Year 5 of the Research Quality Management Program (RQMP)

  • Develop a Research Quality SMART Goal Related to Data Management and Submit Details of the Plan - Due 12/01/23
  • Submit a Plan for Administering a Research Quality Training Event within the Unit - Due 12/01/23
  • Administer a Minimum of One Research Quality Training Event within the Unit- Due 03/29/24
  • Revise/update and Submit Unit-Level Escalation Plan to include Distinct Paths for Overlap in Research Proposals (Budgetary, Scientific and Commitment) and Research Non-Compliance - Due 05/31/24
  • Submit Documentation of Implementation and Progress on Research Quality SMART Goal on Data Management - Due 05/31/24

Year 5 Milestones Detailed Handout Document

Year 4 (July 2022 - June 2023)

Schools of Medicine and Nursing

Milestones for Year 4 "Group A" of the Research Quality Management Program (RQMP)

  • Ensure All Research Faculty and Staff are Aware of Repercussions Associated with Overdue RCR and SCRI Training - Due 10/01/22
  • Review and Update Scholarly Culture and Accountability Plan (SCAP) - Due 12/16/22
  • Review and Update RQMP Operational Plan - Due 12/16/22
  • Review and Update Escalation Path - Due 03/31/23
  • Attend RQT Training - Due 03/31/23
  • Obtain SCAP Attestations - Due 06/30/23
  • Provide Update on How Best Practices in Data Management Processes are Ensured and Provide Update on DMP SMART Goal - Due 06/30/23

Year 4 Milestones Detailed Handout Document

Year 3 (July 2021 - June 2022)

Schools of Medicine and Nursing

Milestones for Year 3 "Group A" of the Research Quality Management Program (RQMP)

  • Meet with RQMP Central Office and Submit SMART Goal - Due 12/17/21
  • Review and Update RQMP Operational Plan - Due 12/17/21
  • Attend RQT Training and Disseminate Materials to Unit - Due 05/31/22
  • Achieve and Maintain RCR Training Compliance - Due 06/30/22
  • Report on Progress of SMART Goal - Due 06/30/22

Year 3 Milestones Detailed Handout Document

Year 2 (July 2020 - June 2021)

Schools of Medicine and Nursing

Milestones for Year 2 "Group A" of the Research Quality Management Program (RQMP)

  • SCAP Maintenance Plan - Due 10/30/20
  • Upload Survey Participant List or contact RQMP for a consult - Due 10/30/20
  • Describe Escalation Plan - Due 11/30/20
  • Ensure all sub-units respond to Data Management Survey - Due 12/18/20
  • Submit Updated Operation Plan - Due 03/31/21

Year 2 Group A Milestones Detailed Handout Document

Milestones for Year 2 "Group B" of the Research Quality Management Program (RQMP)

  • Submit Updated Operation Plan - Due 03/31/21
  • Confirm Inventory of "House Staff" - Due 03/31/21
  • Promote SOuRCe Survey Completion by Faculty/Staff - Due 03/31/21**
  • Organize Internal RCR-200 Training Event - Due 06/30/21
  • Promote MRH/MRP and Organize Demo - Due 06/30/21
  • RQO and LRA Complete and attest to Research Integrity Training - Due 06/30/21

Year 2 Group B Milestones Detailed Handout Document

Year 1 (July 2019 - June 2020)

Schools of Medicine and Nursing

Milestones for the Research Quality Management Program (RQMP) are as follows:

  • All units have performed a unit-level self-assessment of Research Administration Operational Standards by November 15, 2019
     
  • All units will have appointed a RQO and a Lead Research Administrator. The organizational relationship between the RQO, CRU Director (if applicable), Vice Chair for Research (if applicable; if no VCR, then other scientific faculty lead and/or Division Chief(s), as applicable), Shared Resource Director(s), if applicable, Lead Research Administrator, and Business Manager will be defined and submitted to the Department Chair or Center/Institute Director and DOSI by December 31, 2019
     
  • RQOs in all units have submitted a written first year operational plan to the Department Chair or Center/Institute Director and DOSI by March 1, 2020
     
  • Each academic unit (school/departments, centers, and institutes) will have all researchers who are primarily appointed to their unit attest to reviewing that unit's Scholarly Culture and Accountability Plan (SCAP) by June 30, 2020

RQMP Year 1 Milestones for Schools of Medicine and Nursing