About Office of Research Compliance Administration
The Office of Research Compliance Administration (ORCA) provides policy and process guidance and expertise in areas of research integrity and research compliance. To learn more about how the work of ORCA fits into the full proposal and award process, see Sponsored Projects Award Life Cycle.
Research Integrity
The Research Integrity team is responsible for compliance with research regulations and policy, and review and guidance for activities related to export control, foreign engagement in research, conflict of interest, research security, and research misconduct. We support the campus research community by helping to navigate the constantly changing regulatory environment in academic research. We also are responsible for oversight and management of UC Santa Cruz’s conflict of interest compliance committee.
Export control
- Manages the campus export control compliance program.
- Applies for all necessary export licenses.
- Drafts and implements Technology Control Plans.
- Provides training sessions to the campus community on export control laws and regulations.
- Serves as the campus export control resource.
Foreign engagement
Assists researchers in complying with federal regulations related to the disclosure of foreign collaborations in research projects.
Several campus units have responsibilities around foreign engagement.
Conflict of interest
Provides confidential assistance to faculty, staff, and other researchers to assess situations in which financial or other personal considerations may compromise, or have the appearance of compromising, their actions or judgments in the administration, management, teaching, research, or performance of any professional activities at UC Santa Cruz.
Learn more about conflict of interest policies and reporting requirements.
Primary contact: Bri Quinn
Research security and research data guidance
Provides guidance on how research data should be handled during research activity and after research work has concluded at UC Santa Cruz.
Learn more about research security and research data.
Research misconduct
Works with the vice chancellor for research (the designated Research Integrity Officer for the campus) on all potential research misconduct inquiries, investigates research misconduct, and reports any findings to the appropriate federal agencies.
Learn more about research misconduct.
Primary contact: Csilla Csaplár
Research Compliance
The Research Compliance team is responsible for compliance with research regulations and policy, and provides review and guidance for activities related to human subjects, animal subjects, stem cell research, cannabis research, and Native American graves protection. We support the campus research community by providing the infrastructure to ensure protection of our most sensitive subjects. We also are responsible for oversight and management of UC Santa Cruz’s human subjects and animal subjects compliance committees, and ensure compliance with accreditation standards.
Animal care and use
- Oversees UC Santa Cruz’s animal care and use program, including administrative support of the institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC).
- Responsible for reviewing all animal use protocols.
- Ensures compliance with federal regulations, inspection of animal facilities and laboratories, and oversight of related training programs.
Primary contact: Bruce Kennedy; iacuc@ucsc.edu
Cannabis research
Provides policy guidance and liaises with campus and UCOP partners to facilitate the review process for cannabis-related studies.
Learn more about cannabis research.
Primary contact: Sana Khoury Shakour
Human subjects protection
- Oversees UC Santa Cruz’s human research protections program, including administrative support of the institutional review board (IRB).
- Safeguards the rights and welfare of human research participants and promotes high quality, ethical research.
- Responsible for reviewing all human subjects protocols.
- Ensures compliance with federal regulations and oversight of related training programs.
Contact: orca@ucsc.edu
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
Provides guidance and support for the repatriation of Native American human remains and cultural items in accordance with the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), its accompanying regulations, and CalNAGPRA.
Primary contact: Csilla Csaplár
Stem cell research
Provides guidance and procedures for conducting human embryonic and stem cell research at UC Santa Cruz.
Learn more about stem cell research.
Contact: orca@ucsc.edu