Office of Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is committed to the highest standards of integrity in all areas of research and resolves that such activities by faculty, staff and students will be conducted in accordance with strict ethical principles and in compliance with federal, state and institute regulations and policies.
In support of this commitment, Cincinnati Children’s created the Office of Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs (ORCRA) in 2005 in an effort to consolidate and standardize the medical center’s compliance and regulatory functions. Through active and close collaboration with the various research oversight committees as well as the Corporate Compliance and Integrity Program, ORCRA promotes the ethical and responsible conduct of research and ensures compliance with the regulatory requirements related to research involving human and vertebrate animal subjects, rDNA and infectious agents.
The oversight committees directly supported by ORCRA include the Institutional Review Board, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, the Institutional Biosafety Committee and the Conflict of Interests Committee.
In addition to supporting the review and approval processes specific to each of the committees, ORCRA facilitates the ethical conduct of research through:
- Auditing and oversight of ongoing research
- Providing educational programs for faculty, staff and students
- Maintaining the institution’s research-related assurances and accreditations with the appropriate government agencies
- Functioning as the primary institutional home for all policies and procedures related to the conduct of research
Our Mission
The Office of Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs will improve research efforts by providing excellent support and consultative services, in areas related to the regulatory and ethical aspects of conducting research, to our faculty, community physicians, staff and students for better outcomes in child health. Concurrently, ORCRA promotes compliance with institutional, federal and regulatory regulations, policies and guidelines through educational and outreach programs. By doing so, we will transform delivery of care through fully integrated, globally recognized research, education and innovation.
