UCSF home page UCSF home page About UCSF Search UCSF UCSF Medical Center
UCSF navigation bar
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Overview of the Office of Research
Setting up the office and research space
Obtaining regulatory committee approvals
Finding, obtaining and managing money
Being responsible
Leaving UCSF or Transferring Funds/Specimens outside of UCSF
Appendices
UCSF School of Medicine Clinical and Translational Research

THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH

NEW INVESTIGATORS: A QUICK GUIDE TO STARTING YOUR RESEARCH AT UCSF

Table of Contents

Obtaining Regulatory Committee Approvals - Other Topics:
| Making Sense of the Regulations | What is Research Online? | Working with Biologicals | Working with Chemicals | Working with Radioactive Materials | Working with Radioactive Materials in Humans | Working with Controlled Substances at UCSF | Working with Animals | Involving Human Subjects in Research | Serving on the Committees


WORKING WITH UCSF'S AFFILIATES

• Who are the primary UCSF affiliates?
• Do affiliates have their own approval process or requirements?
• Who do I contact for regulatory approval at an affiliated site?
• Are there any special requirements for human research at affiliates?


Who are the primary UCSF affiliates?

The five primary affiliates that researchers commonly interact which include:

•  Ernst Gallo Clinical and Research Center (EGCRC)
•  J. David Gladstone Institutes
•  Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE)
•  San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH)
•  San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SFVAMC)

Do affiliates have their own approval process or requirements?

Yes. Depending upon the affiliate, there may be additional requirements to obtain permission to conduct research at these organizations. These can include separate approval processes, additional requirements for training, credentialing, and documentation, and PI status may be granted independently from UCSF. Faulty status does not indicate PI status with different institutions. When contemplating adding an affiliate’s site to your research, you must contact them to determine if there will be additional research requirements.

Who do I contact for regulatory approval at an affiliated site?

First you will need to determine what regulatory approvals you will need for both UCSF and the affiliated institution. Then, you need to know if these approvals can be obtained at the same time or if you will have to obtain approval at one site before the other site will approve your research.

To work with affiliates when you are a UCSF PI, you must:
•  Determine if you would have research rights at the affiliated site. You may be required to collaborate with a PI at that institution
Obtain all of the relevant UCSF regulatory approvals.
Obtain the relevant approvals from the affiliated site. These will be determined by what type of interaction is planned, such as working only with affiliated data, working directly with the affiliate’s patients, and/or working at the affiliate’s site.
 
To work with UCSF when you are an affiliate PI, you must:
  Determine if you would have PI status at UCSF. You may be required to collaborate with a UCSF PI in order to use UCSF facilities or data, even if you have a faculty appointment. For example, all human subjects studies require UCSF PI status before CHR approval will be given.
Obtain all of the relevant regulatory approvals for their institution.
  Obtain relevant approvals from UCSF.

The table below lists the major primary affiliates and whether UCSF or the affiliate’s research committees (or both) have regulatory oversight.

Activities w /
Regulatory Oversight
UCSF
UCSF Affiliated Institutions
Gallo
Gladstone
NCIRE
SFGH
SFVAMC
Animal Research UCSF (IACUC) UCSF (IACUC) UCSF (IACUC) N/A UCSF
(IACUC) and SFGH
SFVAMC
(IACUC)
Use of Biological Materials UCSF
(BSC)
UCSF
(BSC)

UCSF
(BSC)
SFVAMC
Biosafety Sub Committee
UCSF
(BSC)
and SFGH
SFVAMC Biosafety Sub Committee
Human Research UCSF
(CHR)
UCSF
(CHR)
UCSF
(CHR)
UCSF
(CHR)
UCSF (CHR); and Dean’s Office-SFGH UCSF
(CHR) & the VA (CRS)
Use of Radioactive Materials
and
Drugs
UCSF
(RSC/RDRC)
UCSF
(RSC/RDRC)
UCSF
(RSC/RDRC)
SFVAMC
R&D
Safety Sub Committee
UCSF
(RSC/RDRC)
SFVAMC
R&D Safety Sub Committee

Please note that the UCSF regulatory committees have oversight for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) researchers located at UCSF.

Are there any special requirements for human research at affiliates?

SFGH and the SFVAMC have additional requirements for clinical research:

Clinical Research at SFGH: You must have both UCSF CHR and SFGH Dean’s Office approval for clinical research whether working directly with patients, working with patient data or working on site at SFGH:

  •  You must obtain UCSF CHR approval first,
  Then, you apply to the SFGH Dean’s Office or research approval. The SFGH application covers all of the required regulatory approvals to work at SFGH with the exception of the Application for Investigational Drugs at SFGH.

Clinical research with SFVAMC: You are required to have both UCSF CHR and VAMC approvals for research. Only approved San Francisco VA Principal Investigators (SFVA PIs) may conduct research at the San Francisco VA. Having PI status at another institution, or another VA, does not automatically grant you privileges at this station.

For UCSF PIs wishing to add the VA to their research project, be sure to include a VA investigator and meet all VA requirements for research approval.

For affiliated PIs wishing to add UCSF to their research project, be sure to apply for all necessary approvals through your institution as well as obtaining CHR approval from UCSF. As an affiliated PI, you must collaborate with a UCSF PI in order to receive CHR approval.

  •  Do not submit directly to the CHR. You must submit your application to the SFVAMC Clinical Research Office. They will submit it to the CHR on your behalf after they have reviewed it.
  Investigator responsibilities at the SFVAMC
  CHR website guidance for adding the VAMC as a site for your research
  SFVAMC Clinical Research Office: Contact them at (415) 221-4810, extension 4655.