The Office of Research Compliance is dedicated to ensuring that the WCMC-Q faculty, students and staff understand their responsibilities in conducting research activities according to international ethical standards, University policy and all applicable regulations, including Qatari law. The information below details the required documentation, approval, and trainings for each new research project and researcher at WCMC-Q.

All Research
• A completed Research Safety Checklist, found on the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) page of the WCMC-Q Intranet .
• Time and Effort must be reported to the researcher's WCMC department per department requirements and the WCMC Time and Effort Reporting Policy.
• Projects receiving extramural funding must ensure that a signed contract or grant is in place with the sponsor in order to receive cost center information from WCMC-Q
Research Involving Human Subjects
• Approval, or documented exemption from approval, from the WCMC-Q Institutional Review Board (IRB). The application for IRB approval/exemption can be accessed here. This will automatically include concurrent review by the Scientific Review Committee (SRC).
• Completion of the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) training for biomedical researchers in the protection of human subjects.
• Approval of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)*
• Human subjects research involving recombinant DNA/gene therapy procedures, and for
• Human subjects research involving risk group 2 or higher infectious agents
• Registration with the IBC* is required for use of recombinant DNA or transgenic animals
Research Involving Animal Subjects
• Approval of the WCMC-NY Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
  Please refer to the Animal Research page for instructions on obtaining WCMC IACUC.
• Registration with the IBC is required for use of recombinant DNA or transgenic animals
Research Involving Stem Cells
• Tri-Institutional Stem Cell Initiative Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight (Tri-SCI ESCRO) Committee approval is required for all research involving human embryonic stem cells, research involving the transplantation of human pluripotent stem cells derived from non-embryonic sources (hPS) into laboratory animals at any stage of development or maturity, and research involving the use of hPS cells in in vitro experiments designed or expected to yield gametes.
• Research personnel conducting human embryonic stem cell research must complete the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Training to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and institutional requirements.
• NOTE: The Tri-Institutional Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research web pages are not available to the public at large. If you are unable to access these pages, please contact Kathleen Pickering, Executive Director, Tri-Institutional Research Program.
Individual Research Personnel Certain trainings are required of research personnel in order to comply with the standards and guidelines of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other regulatory bodies.

The Laboratory Safety Training is required of all researchers working in WCMC-Q laboratories, while other trainings apply only to researchers working with specific materials or funding sources. All trainings must be completed at the time of initial assignment where exposure exists, and be renewed annually.

• All research personnel working in WCMC-Q laboratories are required to complete Laboratory Safety Training prior to the initiation of any laboratory work in compliance with OSHA Laboratory Safety Standard (1910.1450). The training covers procedures for general lab safety, emergencies, hazardous waste disposal, and accident awareness and prevention.
• Research personnel handling clinical samples (e.g., blood and unfixed tissue) must take Bloodeborne Pathogen Training in compliance with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (1910.1030).
• Research personnel handling radioisotopes must complete Radiation Safety Training per Qatar Ministry of Environment and US Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations.
• Research personnel handling biological hazards in risk category 2 and above must complete Biological Safety Training to help ensure compliance with NIH guidelines.
• Research personnel conducting rDNA research not exempt from NIH guidelines** must also complete Biological Safety Training to help ensure compliance with NIH guidelines.
• Medical Education faculty who receive extramural research funding must complete an online Research Compliance Training to help ensure compliance with institutional and statutory requirements in the grant application process.

* Currently, all Institutional Biosafety Committee approvals and registrations are done through the WCMC IBC.

** This applies to research supported by NIH funds, research that receives any support for rDNA research from NIH, research that involves testing in humans of rDNA materials developed with NIH funds, or if the institution that developed these rDNA materials sponsors or participates in the research.