Research
Training and Education

Ethics and Accountability in Biomedical Training

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Getting Started

The Keck School of Medicine of USC will offer INTD 500: Ethics and Accountability in Biomedical Research. This course satisfies the NIH Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training requirements. The course is open to all graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and staff who are conducting research. All PIBBS doctoral students are required to pass INTD 500 prior to advancing to candidacy. Master’s students, postdoctoral fellows, and others auditing will receive a certificate of completion of the course.

Students in Classroom

Summer 2025

The course will be offered in a one-week format, meeting for five (5) consecutive days, Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. during the week of June 2-6, 2025, MCA 149. Registration Form.

Fall 2025

The course will be repeated during the Fall semester and will be offered once a week over six (6) consecutive weeks. The course will meet every Monday from September 8 – October 13, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Registration Form.

The Responsible Conduct of Research course includes lecture, video, and discussion topics focused on scientific integrity, misconduct and fraud in science, data acquisition and management, collaborative research, responsible authorship, conflicts of interest, innovation advancement and patents, animal welfare, human subjects, mentor/mentee responsibilities and professionalism in scientific relationships.

The course director is Dr. Axel H. Schönthal, Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, and Associate Dean for Biomedical Master’s Programs at the Keck School of Medicine. Small-group discussion sessions will be facilitated by experienced faculty members from the various departments at the medical school.

How to Sign Up

  • Please complete the Registration Request Form (click to access link).
  • REGISTRATION FOR UNIT CREDIT: Requires D-clearance to register. You will receive a follow up email confirming clearance to register. Tuition fees will be assessed.
  • AUDITOR REGISTRATON: No unit credit will be earned. No tuition payment required. A certificate of completion will be provided. All Master’s students are urged to audit.

Questions

Please direct any questions about the content of the course to Dr. Axel H. Schönthal.  For registration related questions, please contact Verrinia Amatulli.