NEW INVESTIGATORS: A QUICK GUIDE TO STARTING YOUR RESEARCH AT
UCSF
Given the complex nature of the university environment,
you should establish your research program before you arrive at
UCSF. Investigators require research space,
regulatory approvals, and funding to conduct research. The
sooner
you obtain these required elements, the sooner
you can begin your research.
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Research and Office Space:
You can expedite your move into your office
and research spaces by working with these UCSF departments before
starting your program: |
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Your home department:
Contact the department’s manager/director. This person
will provide floor plans, keys, security codes, email accounts,
computer IT information, telecommunications, and coordinate
moving services and installation of equipment. They will
serve as your primary contact for all renovations, repairs,
and space
needs for your research program. On your behalf, they will
coordinate with other UCSF departments that provide these services.
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Office
of Research: |
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Office
of Environmental Health and Safety (OEH&S):
Provides consultation on laboratory design and guidance
on safety requirements for specialized research
equipment |
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Departmental
Safety Advisor (DSA): OEH&S
assigns DSAs to each Department/Unit to serve as a single
point of contact for all of their health and safety needs.
Contact your DSA as
soon as possible to determine
if there will be any special requirements or restrictions
for the use of your research space or your research materials. |
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Laboratory
Animal Resource Center (LARC):
If you will be transferring animals to UCSF, contact LARC for
space availability and quarantine requirements for housing
vertebrate research animals. You must have animal housing assigned
to your project before transferring
animals to UCSF. |
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Research Regulatory Approvals
and Requirements:
Most of the regulatory committees will not approve your application
until your laboratory research space has been cleared for use
by the OEH&S. However, you can start the application process
without this clearance by working with the following: |
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Your home department:
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To establish your research
accounts,
• To provide guidance on hiring research staff for your project,
• To offer other human resource services (employment, benefits,
payroll).
They are your primary contact for guidance on UC academic
policies for faculty as well as departmental or school policies.
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Office
of Research: |
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Office
of Environmental Health and Safety (OEH&S):
Contact OEH&S for guidance
on safety requirements for all laboratory research and use
of hazardous
materials at UCSF. |
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Departmental
Safety Advisor (DSA): They
are assigned by OEH&S to your research space. Specific
DSA services include:
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Advice on transfers of laboratory equipment,
supplies, and research materials (biological, chemical, radioactivity,
controlled substances)
to UCSF. |
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Serve as your primary contact
for all safety issues. |
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Audit of your initial laboratory setup for
safety compliance. You will need this clearance before the
regulatory committees can give final approval
for your research. |
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Determination of what type of compliance-related
training is required before research
is allowed to begin. |
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Technical
Committees: Technical Committees oversee the
use of biologicals, chemicals, controlled substances, and
all use of radioactive materials. If you have any questions,
please contact your
Departmental
Safety Advisor (DSA), the Office
of Environmental Health and Safety at 476-1300, or the Technical
Committees Coordinator. Your DSA should be contacted
first.
If you have specific technological questions about
biological or radiological hazards or controlled substances,
please contact the following hazard specialists:
• Biosafety Officer: 476-2097
• Radiation Safety Officer: 476-5303
• Controlled Substances Program: 502-8653 |
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Institutional
Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC): Contact
for guidance and applications for animal research. You must
have IACUC approval for animal
research before initiating animal
studies. |
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Laboratory
Animal Resource Center (LARC): Contact LARC to obtain housing for vertebrate
animals, proximity cards to animal housing, keys, veterinary
services, training, and order animals. You will not be allowed
to order, house, or use animals without IACUC approval. |
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Committee
for Human Research (CHR): If you will be transferring
human subjects research protocols to UCSF, you must contact
the CHR before initiating
this research at UCSF for mandatory review and approval.
If you will be starting a new project, you must have CHR
approval before initiating human
subjects research at UCSF. The CHR provides extensive guidance
on all human subjects
research issues. |
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Research Funding:
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Your Home department can
provide information on available intramural funds at UCSF,
as well
as assist you in your applications and submissions. |
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Office
of Sponsored Research |
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will assist you in transferring
your existing research funds (government, industry, non-profits)
to UCSF. |
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will provide sources,
applications, and deadlines for new extramural funds. |
