Last July, OHSU announced changes in training requirements for the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and protection of human subjects. With the university’s transition to the CITI Program, all researchers who completed their training more than three years ago in the Big Brain system are now being asked to complete updated training through CITI by May 31, 2017. The CITI Program meets NIH standards and is utilized by the majority of academic institutions in the U.S. and the Veteran’s Administration.

Depending on your work, you might need to complete at least one of the following CITI courses by the May 31 deadline.

• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). Previously called “RCR for All” in Big Brain. This course is required for anyone involved in research at OHSU.
• Animal Care and Use (ACU): Working with the IACUC. Previously called “RCR involving Animal Subjects” in Big Brain. This course must be completed by researchers who use animals.
• Human Subjects Research (HSR): Human Researchers. Previously called “RCR involving Human Subjects” in Big Brain. This course must be completed by researchers conducting research with human subjects.
• Biosafety/Biosecurity: Working with rDNA/Infectious Agents/Toxins. Previously called “RCR involving rDNA, Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules and Infectious Agents/ Biological Toxins” in Big Brain. This course must be competed if you work with recombinant DNA, synthetic nucleic acid molecules in cells, organisms or viruses, infectious agents, or biologically derived toxins.
• Good Clinical Practices (GCP). Previously called “RCR for FDA Regulated Products” in Big Brain. This course must be completed by researchers conducting human subject research involving FDA regulated products (drugs or devices), clinical trials funded by the NIH or clinical trials with GCP training required by the sponsor.

Changes in Compliance Training

With the ever-changing research regulatory environment, OHSU has instituted a 3-year renewal requirement for the CITI courses listed above, as is the standard at many institutions, to provide updated content and refreshers on regulatory requirements.

If you have previously completed the listed courses in Big Brain, you will be eligible to enroll in a refresher training option once in the CITI system. Similarly, past CITI users are able to associate their existing CITI account with OHSU in order to apply previously completed courses towards OHSU requirements. By linking your OHSU credentials to a pre-existing CITI account, you will be given credit for any equivalent trainings completed in the last 3 years when you register for OHSU training. Please note that the CITI modules do take longer than the old Big Brain modules, so expect to devote at least an hour to each.

When do I have to complete CITI training?

Courses previously completed in Big Brain will be automatically assigned to your Compass account. Based on your past completions, you were either assigned a due date of May 31, 2017 or May 31, 2018. If you are not sure when you are due, you can check your account in Compass for any assigned training and the due date. Failure to complete your training by these dates will result in you being noncompliant in funding set-up processes and block the submission of IRB, IACUC, and IBC protocols on which your education compliance is being managed by OHSU.

You only need to complete courses related to the type of work you do now. If you no longer need to complete a course that has been assigned to you, please let us know by filling out this online form. You can also reply back to integrity@ohsu.edu, and identify which course no longer applies to you and why. Your Compass transcript will be adjusted accordingly. Please visit the website for more information on training requirements, and contact integrity@ohsu.edu with any questions.