USC Research Policies, Guidelines & Resources

Compliance with all federal and state laws, rules, regulations as well as institutional policies and Good Clinical Practices (GCP) is a priority. Guidelines are in place for developing a safety culture and controlling risks for the USC Campuses and surrounding community, review of human subjects and animal research and the ethical conduct of research and reporting misconduct.

Research Policies, Guidelines & Resources

USC TARA

TARA is USC’s Total Access for Research Administration system, supporting management of research awards, proposals, core laboratories and regulatory protocols.

Office of Culture, Ethics, and Compliance
View University policy and procedures for compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and adherence to the highest standards of ethical conduct.

USC Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG)
The USC Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) supports USC’s investigators from proposal development to award closeout, ensuring that our grants and contracts are consistent with university standards for academic freedom, research ethics and fiscal responsibility.

Office of Financial Analysis
The USC Office of Financial Analysis coordinates and manages the University’s response to government-required audits and government audits of externally sponsored research projects, oversees the University’s recharge centers, including federal compliance and creation of new recharge centers, oversees effort certification reporting, and manages review of exceptions that allow certain telecommunication expenses on sponsored projects to be charged as direct costs.

USC Sponsored Projects Accounting
The USC Office of Sponsored Projects Accounting oversees the post-award financial administration of sponsored research for the university.

USC Office of Research
The mission of the Office of Research at the University of Southern California is to nurture and promote ethical and rigorous research, scholarship, creativity, and innovation to benefit society.

Guide to Research at USC
A comprehensive reference tool that highlights many important USC policies and procedures related to sponsored projects.