Office of Research Assurances

Ensuring safe, compliant, and ethical research

The Office of Research Assurances (ORA) fosters responsible research practices.

Presidential committees

The ORA oversees presidential committees that hold Washington State University research practices to the highest standards of ethics and safety. The following committees ensure that investigations comply with federal and state regulations, as well as University policy.

 

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Supported by the Animal Welfare Program (AWP)
Ensures that all vertebrate animals involved in teaching or research at WSU receive ethical and humane care and treatment.

 

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

Supported by the Biosafety Program
Oversees the safe use and handling of potentially biohazardous materials on WSU campuses.

 

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Supported by the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)
Protects the rights and welfare of human research subjects at WSU.

 

Radiation Safety Committee (RSC)

Supported by the Radiation Safety Program
Ensures the safe use of radioactive materials and radiation-emitting machines at WSU sites throughout the state.

Export controls

International research activities must comply with regulations governing the transfer of controlled items or information to foreign nationals or entities.

Hazardous materials and dangerous goods shipping

WSU’s trained shippers ensure that all hazardous materials or dangerous goods comply with applicable regulations and arrive at their desired destinations without costly delays.

WSU and PNNL Collaboration Guidance Document

Washington State University and the United States Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have combined their scientific, research, and academic acumen to build and strengthen relationships that will drive innovation and help sustain the globe. WSU’s ORA and OR worked with PNNL to create a guidance document intended to help facilitate collaboration between WSU and PNNL. This document outlines the basic considerations and expectations when WSU personnel will be conducting research at PNNL facilities and when PNNL personnel will be conducting research at WSU facilities. This document is available for review here.

Contact us

 

Research Integrity

WSU’s Research Integrity Officer (RIO) is Michael Wolcott, Interim Vice President for Research and Regent’s Professor. For more information, please see research misconduct.