University of Michigan
Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR)
Research Policies Committee (RPC)

Friday, December 17, 2004
10:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

PRESENT:     Pinaki Mazumder, J. Hunter Waite, Mary Haan (chair), Michael Combi, Roscoe Warner, Josephine Kasa-Vubu, Jane Ritter (staff), Carol Persad

OVPR:            Lee Katterman, Marvin Parnes

GUEST:          Cindy Wells, MAIS

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Lajos Balogh has resigned from the RPC effective immediately.  He has obtained a tenured position at SUNY and has resigned from UM effective 1/3/05.  SACUA will appoint a replacement member.

Summary of Discussion

1.         Review/approve minutes from November 19, 2004                        Committee

Minutes in draft form were distributed for RPC review at today's meeting.  Any changes/corrections/additions will be returned to M. Haan at the end of today's meeting.

2.         Update on MPRIME/e-Research (Handout)                                  Marvin Parnes & Cindy Wells

M. Parnes introduced Cindy Wells, from MAIS.  Major issue:  user acceptance.  Increased scrutiny of IRBs and higher regulatory standards, i.e. HIPPA, has created barriers to research conduct.  The IRBs are also being impacted by other areas, i.e. accreditation, while the system is being rolled out.  There was a demonstration of e-Research system and discussion of how the impact on faculty might be assessed. The e-Research system was excellent and functional, however, the concern of the faculty about limitations imposed by increasing Federal regulations of human subjects research probably will not be alleviated by the new system.

3.         Update on Inventions Policy                                                             Marvin Parnes

General discussion on current policy. 

4.         Feedback on applicability of DCMA to research issues                Marvin Parnes

Marvin did speak to James Hilton and the outcome of that conversation suggested that DCMA does not primarily apply to research issues but relates more to legal concerns about obtaining material from the internet. Unless further concerns are raised, this issue will not be considered on future agendas of RPC.

5.         Update on PEERRS (E-mail attachment)                                        Lee Katterman

Vice President Ulaby plans to bring the issue of extending PEERRS certification to all PIs (supported by RPC at its November meeting) to a January meeting of the deans.  The Office of Research Integrity received a grant to write a module on Publications and Authorship.  Format is the same as other PEERRS modules.  Introduction, short case study, reiteration of 4-5 main points.  VP Ulaby is asking for RPC input: (a) Who should this module be presented to?  (b) Are there any particular groups on campus? 

A question was raised about issue of mentor/first authorship approaches. The module doesn't address this in strong fashion.  There is a module, not planned for the web, on mentoring.  Some material could be moved to the Authorship module. The mentorship issue will be discussed in January.

DISCUSSION:  Anyone who has the potential to be an author on a publication should be required to pass this module.  Data ownership on agenda for May but will also addressed in January.

AGENDA:  Revisit for January

6.         Multidisciplinarity                                                                            Hunter Waite & Michael Combi

Will be discussed at the April and May meetings.

7.         General discussion                                                                           Committee

Agenda items for January:     UM Stem Cell policy, Rob Todd to attend and discuss.
                                            Judy Nowak and Rob Todd on human subjects research policy
                                            Data ownership introduction (Marvin Parnes)
                                            PEERS modules discussion (Katterman)

8.         Next meeting:         January 21, 2005
                                            10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
                                             4006 Fleming Building