The Keck School adheres to the highest standards of ethical conduct and responsible conduct of research.
All researchers must follow University guidelines
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.
USC Research Policies, Guidelines & Resources
Office of Compliance
View University policy and procedures for compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and adherence to the highest standards of ethical conduct.
Office of Contracts and Grants
Guide for USC researchers in the preparation of government and privately sponsored (non industry) research proposals and the internal review and approval process. Also includes a repository of proposal kits and guidelines for major funding agencies.
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
View University policy and procedures for developing a safety culture and controlling risks for the USC Campuses and surrounding community.
Office of Sponsored Projects Accounting
View University policy and procedures for post-award administration of sponsored research and access links to other post-award resources such as Payroll Services, Purchasing Services and Disbursement Control.
IACUC
View University policy and procedures for review of animal subjects research
IRB
View University policy and procedures for review of human subjects research
Office of Financial Analysis
View website for services provided to the University community.
Scientific Misconduct Committee
View University policy and procedures for the ethical conduct of research and reporting misconduct.
USC Stevens Institute for Innovation
View University policy and procedures for the formal disclosure of intellectual property including information on patent procedures.
Keck School of Medicine Research Policy & Guideline Resources
The Dean and administrative staff of the Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) recognize the critical contribution of sponsored contract and grant funding to the school. They also recognize support to the faculty in the grant and contract proposal process is essential to ensure timely and successful grant and contract submissions. The KSOM Policy on Proposal Review and Approval is designed to communicate and clarify the roles and responsibilities of the principal investigators (PIs) and their departments as well as the roles and responsibilities of KSOM Research Administration and USC Department of Contracts and Grants.
Research Policies & Procedures
Advance Funding
The University and the KSOM acknowledge that there may be occasions when the principal investigator (PI) of an approved sponsored grant or contract desires to begin before an official award notice has been received from the sponsor. The Keck School endeavors to accommodate this situation by approving advance funding under certain terms and conditions.
Full Policy
Pre-Award Authorization Form
Cost Sharing
The Cost Sharing Policy and Procedure is currently being under review.
Fixed Price Contract Unexpended Balance Transfers
Unexpended balances occur on fixed price contracts when the actual cost to conduct the research project is less than the amount received from the sponsor. The remaining direct costs after a minimum indirect cost has been earned may be used for future KSOM-based research expenses via transfer to a gift or unrestricted account.
Full Policy
Unobligated Balance Transfer Request Form
Guidelines on Grants versus Gifts
Is your proposal application a grant or gift? Should I go through Contracts and Grants or Development? Helpful guidelines for distinguishing between the two sources of funding are provided.
Guidelines for Requesting Partial Waivers of IDC
Externally sponsored grants, contracts and subcontracts are charged the full federally negotiated IDC rate unless
(a) the sponsor has published a different rate that can be independently verified or
(b) an exception is request is submitted in writing by the PI and approved the KSOM Research Dean.
These guidelines describe how to a request an exception.
Keck Partial IDC waiver Request Instructions
Partial IDC Waiver Request Form
Multi-Keck School Department Research Projects & Satellite Accounts
The Keck School of Medicine will adopt the USC procedure of establishing satellite accounts across Schools to encourage faculty to participate in interdisciplinary research and team science in the Keck School of Medicine. We believe that this mechanism would fairly attribute the costs associated with such research activity. To this end, the lead unit of a research project (prime unit) should work with the collaborating units to apportion the research activity with both direct and indirect costs even if the direct costs are limited to faculty time and effort. This procedure applies to all sponsored research projects not only multi-PI projects.
A non-lead unit may waive its option for a satellite account in writing to the lead unit with copy to the Keck Office of Research Administration.