Today we’re stepping behind the scenes into a critical – but often invisible – part of the research world: maintaining integrity. Joining us is Dr. Courtney Karmelita, Executive Director of Ethical Research and Outreach at Penn State. In today's conversation, we'll talk about what really happens when concerns are raised, how institutions handle research misconduct investigations, the challenges of navigating gray areas, and why a culture of integrity matters now more than ever.

Additional resources:

• Interested in learning more about research integrity? Register for CITI Program’s free live webinar “I’m a new RIO, what do I do now?” on July 9. https://about.citiprogram.org/news/free-live-webinar-im-a-new-rio-what-do-i-do-now/
• On Campus – A CITI Program Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1896915/
• CITI Program Course Catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/courses/

How do we responsibly study digital communities without violating their trust? Where do we draw the line between research and interference? Joining us today is Dr. Sarah Gilbert, a research associate at Cornell University and research director of the Citizens and Technology Lab. Her work focuses on supporting healthy online communities, including how online data can be reused ethically. Together, we'll unpack the CMV subreddit case, explore how current research norms are being tested in real time, and ask what a more transparent future might look like.

Additional resources: 

Research papers about ethical research on Reddit:

• Remember the Human: A Systematic Review of Ethical Considerations in Reddit Research - https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3633070
• Cross-Platform user expectations for social media data reuse - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20539517231164108

Guides:

• Association for Internet Researchers: Internet Research: Ethical Guidelines 3.0 - https://aoir.org/ethics/
• PERVADE Data Ethics Tool - https://pervade.umd.edu/pervade-data-ethics-tool/
• AskHistorians Policy for Researchers using r/AskHistorians in Research - https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1iu4otk/meta_new_policy_for_researchers_using/
• Excavating awareness and power in data science: A manifesto for trustworthy pervasive data research - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20539517211040759
• Beyond the Individual: A Community-Engaged Framework for Ethical Online Community Research - https://arxiv.org/pdf/2503.13752

Tool for large-scale disclosure:

• Procedural and Substantive Ethics in the Design of Research Ethics Systems - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20563051221077021

Today’s episode is a celebration of CITI Program’s 25th anniversary. We talk with a panel of long-time employees, including Jaime Arango, Vice President of Content and Education, Daniel Smith, Director of Content and Education, and Adiper Bello, Director of Operations and Support, about the history of CITI Program, key milestones in the company, and where CITI Program is headed.

Additional resources:

• CITI Program timeline: https://about.citiprogram.org/get-to-know-citi-program/

Join us for a fascinating discussion with Dr. Jeremy Rossman, a researcher of 25 years, virologist, and President of a non-profit aimed at creating lasting and sustainable community development in research worldwide. We take a deep dive into community engagement in research; what it means, the challenges and opportunities, and why it’s so important. Jeremy does a wonderful job of explaining community engagement from all sides, whether you’re the researcher, the community involved in the research, or the funding agency; it really takes all parties involved to work collaboratively towards improving research.

A special thank you to Cynthia Bellas for helping produce this episode!

Guest Bio: Dr. Jeremy Rossman is a virologist, President of the non-profit organization Research-Aid Networks, and an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Virology at the University of Kent. Dr. Rossman has conducted collaborative interdisciplinary research on the molecular biology of pandemic-causing viruses, international epidemic responses, evidence-based humanitarian aid and science education. Research-aid networks facilitate collaborative and evidence-based approaches for assessing need, delivering aid, evaluating effectiveness, and achieving equitable, long-term, sustainable community development worldwide.


Additional Resources:

• Dr. Rossman’s Non-Profit Research-Aid Networks - https://researchaidnetworks.org/
• NIH Community Engagement Alliance - https://ceal.nih.gov/
• Long-COVID Patient-Led Research Collaborative - https://patientresearchcovid19.com/
• Learn more about HRP Consulting here - https://thehrpconsultinggroup.com/
• Learn more about CITI Program at about.citiprogram.org.

Join us for a fascinating discussion about the recently updated Dual Use Research of Concern policy. There was so much to cover that I brought in two experts – one as my co-host and the other as our guest. If you don’t know much about Dual Use Research of Concern, this conversation will be a fantastic primer. We discuss what Dual Use means, the policy updates, how these updates could impact your research institution, and why all of this matters.

Also of note, we recorded this episode a couple of weeks ago, in the midst of the many executive orders impacting research. Anne and Melissa do share their thoughts on how you should move forward in this gray area we’ve all found ourselves in, but we always encourage folks to stay up to date as much as possible on the evolving landscape.

Additional Resources:

• DURC Policy released May 2024, effective May 2025 - https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USG-Policy-for-Oversight-of-DURC-and-PEPP.pdf
• Implementation Guidance for DURC policy - https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USG-DURC-PEPP-Implementation-Guidance.pdf
• Learn more about HRP Consulting: https://thehrpconsultinggroup.com/
• Learn more about CITI Program at about.citiprogram.org. 

Guest Bios:

Melissa James – Guest – Melissa is the BSL-3 Facility Manager for Yale University with 12+ years of high containment experience, including establishing and maintaining compliance with the Federal Select Agent Program. Her degrees in biology and Homeland Security and RBP credentials position her to share her vast knowledge and experience with others in the field.

Anne Hawkinsbadge – Guest Host – Anne is the Assistant Director of EHS. She is a Certified Safety Professional, Certified Healthcare Safety Professional, Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional, and a Chemist with the American Society of Clinical Pathology. Her work experience includes healthcare, auto manufacturing, pharmaceutical, academia, worker compensation insurance, and chemical manufacturing.

Join us for episode 1 of season 3 as we explore an essential compliance topic: coverage analysis. It’s a complicated process, but lucky for us, we have Andra Popa. Andra is an expert with nearly two decades of experience in healthcare law, compliance, and coverage analysis. As one of the first in the industry to provide coverage analysis, Andra walks us through the intricate details of the process, including why it’s so important and the consequences if you don’t have a proper coverage analysis process in place.

Additional Resources:

• Local Coverage Determinations CMS - https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/determination-process/local
• National Coverage Determinations CMS - https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/search-results.aspx?keyword=nat&areaId=all&docType=NCD
• Thorny Medicare Coverage Issues article by Andra Popa - https://compliancecosmos.org/thorny-medicare-coverage-issues
• Learn more about HRP Consulting here: https://thehrpconsultinggroup.com/
• Learn more about CITI Program at about.citiprogram.org.

Guest Bio: Andra Popa is responsible for healthcare content at CITI Programs and was part of the first group to conduct Medicare Coverage Analyses. She owned a consulting firm that worked with over 40 healthcare entities to create, assess, audit, and monitor compliance programs, as well as to create educational programs. A graduate of Boston College with degrees in English and economics, she also has JD and LLM (healthcare law) degrees from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She has published over 100 articles, written book chapters, and conducted workshops in design and compliance.

Join us for an engaging recap of the recent PRIM&R conference, held on November 17-20 in Seattle. With an amazing panel of research professionals, we discuss the highlights, popular sessions, hot topics, and the benefits of attending this conference. Whether you attended or not, there is plenty of valuable information shared by the panel of experts in our field.

Guest panel for this episode: Jaime Arango, Vice President of Content and Education at CITI Program; Rafaella Hart, Senior Vice President of IRB, IBC & QA at BRANY; Karen Christianson, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the HRP Consulting Group; Walden Leverich, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Tech Software; and Nate Ferguson, a consultant and IRB Analyst who collaborates with a variety of clients, including footwear and apparel companies conducting human subjects research.


Additional Resources:

• PRIM&R’s 50th-anniversary blog post - https://blog.primr.org/the-history-of-primrs-conferences/
• Learn more about HRP Consulting here - https://thehrpconsultinggroup.com/
• Learn more about CITI Program at about.citiprogram.org.

Join us for an in-depth discussion about the updated research misconduct final rule. John Baughman, a research compliance expert, gives an excellent overview of the updates, why they matter, and how to be prepared when the policy goes into effect on January 1, 2025. While we all wait for the templates and guidance documents from the Office of Research Integrity, John provides some excellent advice and breaks down the most important elements of the new final rule.

Additional Resources:

• The Updated Final Rule on Research Misconduct - https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/09/17/2024-20814/public-health-service-policies-on-research-misconduct
• Blog from ORI about the updated final rule - https://ori.hhs.gov/blog/ori-final-rule
• Learn more about HRP Consulting - https://thehrpconsultinggroup.com/
• Learn more about CITI Program at about.citiprogram.org.

Guest Bio: John R. Baumann, Ph.D., was the Associate Vice President for Research Compliance at Indiana University, including the Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses, as well as the five regional campuses and affiliated hospitals. Dr. Baumann has over 25 years of experience in research, research administration, responsible conduct of research, and research compliance. He has had direct-line responsibility for all aspects of research compliance with regulations and ethical standards related to research misconduct, human subjects research, research with animals, conflict of interest, radiation, and biological safety, as well as research development, coordination, and submission of grant and contract applications, and management of funded research.