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Research FAQ

How do I know my project is research vs. non-research scholarly activity?

Click on the links below for guidance regarding the difference between quality improvement and research projects and how to get started with each type of project.

  1. QA/QI guidelines
  2. Scholarly flow
How do I have my research project reviewed and approved?
  1. Provide the completed and signed ORSP-1 form to the ORSP for review.
  2. The ORSP may ask for further clarifications.
  3. The ORSP will provide a list of required trainings that must be completed in advance of starting the project.
  4. All personnel on a project (including students) MUST complete the CITI Conflict of Interest Training
  5. All personnel on a project (including students) MUST complete a Financial Conflict of Interest Disclosure
  6. An email from the ORSP indicating Institutional approval (or not) for the project will be provided.
  7. ADDITIONAL APPROVALS MAY BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO STARTING THE PROJECT
How do I procure regulatory committee (e.g. IRB, IACUC, IBC) approvals?
  1. In the project initiation approval email from the ORSP, additional approvals such as IRB, IACUC, or IBC review and approval may be required (and stated).
  2. The appropriate Committee Chair(s) are copied on the email from the ORSP.
  3. The PI should contact the Research Integrity and Compliance Administrator for information on how to provide a protocol application for review.
How do I add (or remove) personnel to (from) my project?
  1. Email orsp@osteo.wvsom.edu and request the person(s) be added to (or removed from) the project.
  2. Be sure to specify what role the person will have (this guides training requirements) and provide their contact information (email).
  3. The ORSP will confirm eligibility in terms of trainings, or provide a list of trainings required.
  4. Once the person is eligible to participate in the role specified for that project, the ORSP will send a confirmatory email to the person and the PI.
How do I request technicians/assistance for bench, clinical, educational, or other research projects?
  1. Send an email to orsp@osteo.wvsom.edu requesting assistance and describing your wants.
  2. The ORSP may schedule a meeting to discuss.
  3. We have limited technical help, but we want to get you what you need.
Tell me more about the intramural funding program.
  1. 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ maintains a modest intramural funding program for research projects.
  2. Intramural applications are due August 15, December 15, and April 15.
  3. Intramural grant applications are reviewed by the 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ Research committee for scientific merit, and recommendations regarding funding are made to the Associate Dean of Research and Sponsored Programs, who in turn, makes recommendations to the Dean.
  4. Intramural applications are 'seed monies' to develop projects. A successful application will identify external sources of funding for future application.
  5. Intramural application forms may be found on the Forms page.
Do I need 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ approval for collaborative research?

91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ encourages collaborative research, both within the institution and with external collaborators. Employees collaborating with external researchers are generally required to follow 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ policies and procedures, meaning all 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ approvals must be in place prior to the employee undertaking the collaborative work. For more information, or to see how collaborations by students at/with external PIs are considered, please see the student webpage.

What are the role and responsibilities of a 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ mentor for students doing research at an external facility?

As a 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ student research mentor, your responsibilities are to help guide the student through the approval process and ensure that the required permissions are in place. The 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ mentor may also help the student access 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ resources (e.g. statistics consultation, travel/poster funding) or provide professionalism mentoring. The 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ mentor may also be monitoring educational aspects of the program (e.g. a research rotation).

For clarity, the 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ mentor is not research personnel on the project and the 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ mentor should not be funding the research. The student should not be sharing data or specific information regarding the project with the 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ mentor, nor should the 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ mentor ask for any of those things related to the research project (without permission of the PI).

What are the PI's Responsibilities?
  1. Oversight and management of the project and all personnel, including ensuring compliance with federal regulations and 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ policy.
  2. Ensuring all personnel are appropriately trained prior to them assisting with the research
  3. Oversight of the budget, ensuring no budget overages, and ensuring expenditures are in compliance with 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ policies.
  4. Ensuring safe laboratory practices.
  5. Ensuring responsible conduct of research.
  6. Ensuring ethical treatment of all subjects.
  7. Ensuring open and consistent communication with the ORSP.

(Free) Research and Scholarly Activity Databases

NCATS N3C (COVID-19) Database
  • Each project requires a separate data use request (DUR) to NIH. Also, no screen shots, video capture, photographs, or other removal of data from the NIH database is permitted. All analyses must be done within the NCATS portal.
  • The N3C database uses a team science approach to developing the research project.  You will need to join a in order to develop your question and receive approval from the data access committee.
  • is also a useful collaborative tool for starting to learn how to use the system.  This group meets on Fridays.
  • Review through the DUR process, and see if there are collaboration opportunities.
  • 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ requires investigators to follow internal steps regarding data security and incident reporting, as well. NCATS N3C Data Enclave & Data Access Requirements form and all described documents must be submitted to the ORSP to procure approval prior to submitting an NIH DUR.
  • Trainings and tutorials
  • Need help with the interface? 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ employees and students may request through iLab.
All of Us Research Hub Database
  • You will need to create a account.
  • You will need to sign All of Us's Data User Code of Conduct, and 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ's form, below.
    • Also, no screen shots, video capture, photographs, or other removal of data from the NIH database is permitted.
    • All analyses must be done within the All of Us portal.
    • Additional NIH requirements apply, as described in the Data User Code of Conduct.
  • 91Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ requires investigators to follow internal steps regarding data security and incident reporting, as well. Data access request form and all described documents must be submitted to the ORSP to procure approval prior to submitting a Data User Code of Conduct.
CORD-19 (COVID-19) Database
Genomic Data Commons Portal
  • National Cancer Institute
  • Includes
GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) dataset
  • Gene expression omnibus datasets.  It is a freely accessible repository of genomic data set utilizing several platforms such as microarray, next-generation sequencing, and other forms of high-throughput analysis.
  • You can access the dataset to see differential expression of genes between controls and samples or the expression profile of a particular tumor.
  • To compare gene expression profiles, the GEO2R is used to analyze microarray data. A quick  is available on Youtube.
WV Health Data Portal
  • Allows visualizations of WV’s health statistics, workforce resources, health outcomes, and services/facilities
AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) data resources
CDC wonder databases
  • Portal to numerous epidemiology databases, including AtlasPlus (STI database), Births statistics, Cancer statistics, mortality statistics, etc.
HuGE (Human Genome Epidemiology encyclopedia) Navigator
  • Includes info on population prevalence of genetic variants, gene-disease associations, gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, and evaluations of genetic tests
RNAi consortium
  • Can be used to design short hairpin RNA (shRNA) which can be used to knockdown particular gene of interest. The shRNA will be integrated into lentivirus which can then transfect the target cells.   
  • Hong Song and Ping-Chang Yang's   
  • This database can also be used for CRISPR/Cas9 construction
Ensemble
  • Can be used to search gene or genome sequence of different species, e.g., located in where in the chromosome, how many introns and exons, etc. It is a useful database to do genetic or genomic study
FAERS (FDA Adverse Event Reporting System) Database
  • The FAERS database contains information on adverse event and medication error reports submitted to the FDA.
AIDSVu
  • An interactice, regularly updated online mapping tool providing AIDS and HIV data (e.g. prevalence, diagnosis, mortality, funding) by state, county, and zip code with options to compare with demogrpahics and social determinants (poverty, education, income, insurance, etc.).
  • Users may also download and share infographics and data sets and look up PrEP and testing sites
  • AIDSVu is fueled by Emory School of Public Health & Center for AIDS Research (CFAR).
AACOM Research Reports
  • This is a compilation of data reported by Colleges of Osteopathic medicine, student applicants, and other data. It may be useful for educational research.
  • Contact Erik Guercio, AACOM Director of Research for more info and to discuss collaboration and analyses.
PDB (Protein Data Bank)
  • This resource is powered by the Protein Data Bank archive-information about the 3D shapes of proteins, nucleic acids, and complex assemblies that helps students and researchers understand all aspects of biomedicine and agriculture, from protein synthesis to health and disease.
  • As a member of the wwPDB, the RCSB PDB curates and annotates PDB data.
  • The RCSB PDB builds upon the data by creating tools and resources for research and education in molecular biology, structural biology, computational biology, and beyond.
UCSF CHIMERA
  • UCSF Chimera is a program for the interactive visualization and analysis of molecular structures and related data, including density maps, trajectories, and sequence alignments. High-quality images and animations can be generated. Chimera includes complete documentation and is free of charge for academic, government, nonprofit, and personal use. Chimera development was supported by the National Institutes of Health (P41-GM103311).