The role of a research investigator is twofold: (a) to ask a relevant question and (b) to obtain, analyze, and report data with the highest level of ethics and integrity. While this process is intellectually satisfying, it is guided by an increasingly complex matrix of Federal, State, local and institutional policies and procedures. To help you in this process, below please find links to relevant information, which will be helpful understanding your responsibility as an investigator.

The Belmont Report
- Created under the National Research Act; the Belmont Report provides ethical principles and guidelines in regards human research subjects.

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories
- Provides guidelines for practices, procedures, and facilities in regards to research in Biosafety Levels 1-4.

The Common Rule 45 C.F.R. 46
- Federal policy that applies to all research involving human subjects conducted, supported or otherwise subject to regulation by any federal department or agency which takes appropriate administrative action to make the policy applicable to such research.

The Helsinki Declaration
- Created by the World Medical Association, the Declaration is a statement of ethical principles to provide guidance to those involved in human subject research.

Interstate Shipment of Etiological Agents (42 CFR Part 72)
- Federal law regarding packaging and transportation of etiologic agents in interstate traffic.

Laboratory Animal Welfare Act & MTSU Animal Care and Use
- Regulates all research regarding warm-blooded animals under federal and private funding.

The 1993 NIH Revitalization Act
- Directs the NIH by Congress to develop a plan for research into current methods of research that do not require animals.

The Nuremburg Code
- The Nuremburg Code was created in response to the infamous experiments performed by Nazi scientists on prisoners in their concentration camps. It provides ethical regulations and guidelines in performing human research.

If you have any questions, need to report an adverse event, and/or seek further clarification, please do not hesitate to call (615) 898-8918 or e-mail compliance@mtsu.edu.

If you have any concerns regarding integrity and ethics in research and scholarship at MTSU, please do not hesitate to call (615) 494-8918 or e-mail compliance@mtsu.edu . The confidentiality of anyone who contacts the office will be protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act. Working together we will promote the highest standard of integrity and ethics in research and scholarship.