The NCURA Research Compliance peer review examines how your institution integrates its research enterprise with institutional goals and expectations, as well as how it operationalizes an effective research compliance program that promotes an ethical, responsible and compliant conduct of research. A peer review of your research compliance program (non-financial) provides a holistic review of the broad functions within research compliance at the institution and the effectiveness of your program of research compliance, while recognizing the ways in which institutional differences in organizational structure and institutional priorities impact research priorities.

Unlike an audit, this peer review performs an assessment of your research compliance “program” that goes beyond merely highlighting deficiencies in process. The assessment contains three interrelated features: senior and experienced research compliance Reviewers, the Standards, and a philosophical approach that provides consistency in the review process with an understanding of institutional culture. These key features result in an assessment of effectiveness of the research compliance environment at the institution undergoing peer review.

While specific research compliance activities are reviewed, it is the totality of program interactions, between compliance areas and across stakeholders that constitute a program review. This review does not duplicate AAALAC or AAHRPP accreditation which focus on specific compliance areas.

The review provides key information to the institution for:

• Compliance risk management
• Attention to faculty engagement and burden
• Operational efficiencies within the research compliance program
• Business process improvement
• Improved communications between and from research compliance areas
• Improved responsiveness to key stakeholders

Explore the general types of questions that relate to this review the Standards used to frame our process. You may also find our central-level, global, and unit-level sponsored programs peer review to be of interest.

For questions or further information, please complete our information request form.

The NCURA Peer Review team had an impressive level of relevant experience and perspective. As a result, the process brought instantaneous credibility to our plans to implement suggested improvements to the research and scholarly activities at our school.