Inside Advocacy Behind the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) (May 2026)

• LinkedIn
• Mail
• Facebook
• Bluesky

Table of Contents

---

Association for Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP)

The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) today announced the launch of Research Rising, the theme for the 2026 Clinical Trials Day campaign, an annual celebration organized and championed by ACRP since 2014.

Research Rising celebrates scientific progress, clinical research professionals, and the people at the center of every study—the patients who place their trust in research, the families who hold onto possibility, and the future generations who depend on better therapies and await brighter outcomes.

New in 2026, ACRP is asking its membership to support its efforts to have May 20 officially recognized through Governor and Mayor Proclamations across the country. Learn more at State Proclamations — Clinical Trials Day. These ceremonial declarations help the public better understand the importance of clinical trials, celebrate the workforce, and reinforce the message that clinical research is fundamental to medical progress.

We thank you for personally sharing this update with the S.P.I.R.I.T. community.

Below is a list of updates starting from March 2026 to present.

• Standardizing CDAs: A Promising Way to Overcome Study Start-Up Delays (Blog)
• Women’s History Month Celebrates “Leading the Change” (Blog)
• ACRP Expands Scholarship and Grant Support Amid Unprecedented Applicant Growth (Press Release)
• ACRP Welcomes Huron as Partners Advancing the Clinical Research Workforce™ Member (Press Release)
• Protocol Deviations: Making Sense of FDA’s New Guidance (Blog)
• ACRP Fellow Happy to be “at the Forefront” of Emerging Trends in Clinical Research (Blog)
• ACRP Launches “Research Rising” Campaign for Clinical Trials Day 2026 (Press Release)
• Patient Engagement and the Evolving Landscape for Clinical Trial Recruitment (Blog)
• You May Already be a Project Manager and Not Know It (Blog)
• What’s “Next is Now” for Your Career as a First-Timer at ACRP 2026 (Blog)
• Centralized vs. Decentralized Study Start-Up: Why Time to Activation Still Separates High-Performing Sites (Blog)
• ICH E6(R3): Delivering Quality Outcomes Through Compliance (Blog)
• EHR-to-EDC Integration: Learnings from Site Experiences (Blog)
• CRC Confessionals: The Support I Never Dreamed I Could Have (Blog)
• ACRP Fellow Touts the Benefits of Bringing Clinical Research Stakeholders Together (Blog)
• Managing Financial Risk at the Site Level: Practical Strategies for Underfunded Studies (Blog)
• The Need for Clinical Research Sites to Transition to e-Regulatory Binders: Strategies, Pros, and Cons (The Clinical Researcher)
• Measuring Quality in the Age of AI: Why Regulatory Writing Needs a True Standard (The Clinical Researcher)
• Enhancing the Quality of Investigator-Initiated Trials Through Self-Study Modules (The Clinical Researcher)
• From Mapping Your Pathway to Traversing a Career (The Clinical Researcher)
• Empowering Research-Naïve PIs for Complex and Advanced Therapeutic Trials (The Clinical Researcher)
• The Cost of Turnover in Clinical Operations: What Leaders Can Actually Do About It (The Clinical Researcher)
• Using AI to Unlock New Opportunities in Clinical Data Recruitment and Talent Development (The Clinical Researcher)
• A Practical Guide to Patient-Centric Trials Using Net Treatment Benefit (The Clinical Researcher)
• The Recurring Conundrum of Diversity: Targeted Precision as an Economically Calculable Strategy (The Clinical Researcher)
• “What Got Us Here, Won’t Get Us There,” and Other Insights on the Clinical Research Workforce Shared at ACRP 2026 (Blog)
• ACRP 2026 Panelists Encourage Attendees to “Embrace the Now, Ignite What’s Next” (Blog)
• Attendees Encouraged to “Act with Courage, Driven by Purpose” as ACRP 2026 Closes (Blog)
• Defining Leadership for Oneself is Key to Becoming a Leader, ACRP 2026 Panelists Say (Blog)

(Back to the Contents)

Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP)

Below is a list of updates starting from March 2026 to present.

• An Update from AAHRPP (The Evaluation Instrument for Accreditation Has Been Updated)
• Application for Accreditation or Reaccreditation: Section H Template for Key Personnel, including Research Teams (Updated on March 6, 2026)
• Frequently Asked Questions: Documents to Pull (Updated on March 6, 2026)
• AAHRPP Accreditation Procedures (Updated on March 23, 2026)
• Register for the 2026 AAHRPP Conference
• Search for AAHRPP’s new President and CEO has begun

(Back to the Contents)

Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program

New Courses Now Available

CITI Program continues to expand its learning portfolio with new, high‑impact courses that support ethical, responsible, and secure practices across research and technology environments.

• Research Ethics for All (RE4All) – RE4All has been added to CITI Program’s Human Subject Research (HSR) series, and provides community research partners with disability-accessible education on ethical issues in social and behavioral research.
• RCR Research Security Training – The new RCR Research Security course joins CITI Program’s Research Security series, and serves as research security training designed to augment RECR/RCR training.
• Software Development Ethics – A comprehensive introduction to ethical principles, regulations, and responsible practices that guide software and technology professionals throughout the software development lifecycle.

Upcoming Free Webinars

Join CITI Program for practical, faculty‑focused webinars addressing key challenges in research administration and academic collaboration.

• Work-Life Balance in Research Administration
  May 14 @ 2:00 p.m. ET
  Participants will gain a clear understanding of the financial responsibilities associated with managing federal and other sponsored awards.
• Demystifying Grant Application Reviews
  May 21 @ 2:00 p.m. ET
  Participants will gain a clear understanding of the financial responsibilities associated with managing federal and other sponsored awards.
• Understanding and Monitoring Research Awards: A Guide for Faculty
  June 4 @ 2:00 p.m. ET
  Participants will gain a clear understanding of the financial responsibilities associated with managing federal and other sponsored awards.
• CITI Program’s Second Webinar Symposium
  June 22, beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET
  CITI Program’s second Webinar Symposium, showcases five prior webinars delivered in CITI Program’s Replay format. The webinars present various topics from across their catalog.
• Cybersecurity in Academic Research: Faculty and Students Collaborating Safely
  June 25 @ 2:00 p.m. ET
  Offers a high-level overview of common risks in collaborative research environments and practical strategies to safeguard data and systems.

Latest Podcast Episodes

CITI Program’s podcasts On Campus, On Research, and On Tech Ethics continue to bring timely conversations and expert perspectives straight from the experts. Recent episodes include:

• On Campus: Gen Z Expectations for College and the Future of Higher Education
• On Research: Rethinking Child Assent Practices
• On Tech Ethics: Why Ethical Tech Is a Competitive Advantage

Each episode offers practical insights for institutions navigating change across education, research, and technology.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

To stay informed about new content releases, upcoming webinars, and related news, CITI Program invites the research community to subscribe to its weeklyCITI Program Weekly Newsletter.

We thank you for personally sharing this update with the S.P.I.R.I.T. community.

Below is a list of updates starting from March 2026 to present.

• What We Learned about Surviving and Thriving with Professional Change
• OHRP Updates the Federalwide Assurance (FWA): Key Changes Explained
• What CITI Program is Reading – March 6, 2026
• On Tech Ethics Podcast – Why Ethical Tech Is a Competitive Advantage
• CITI Program Media Playlist – March 11, 2026
• CITI Program Funding Finds – March 17, 2026
• What CITI Program is Reading – March 19, 2026
• When Methodology Becomes an Ethical Issue: What IRBs Need to Know About Quantitative Research
• CITI Program Media Playlist – March 25, 2026
• NIH Seeks Public Comment on New Draft Resources for Implantable Device Trials
• On Campus Podcast – Gen Z Expectations for College and the Future of Higher Education
• On Research Podcast – Rethinking Child Assent Practices
• What CITI Program is Reading – April 1, 2026
• Revised NIH Definition of a Clinical Trial Explained
• How to Integrate Ethics into the Software Development Lifecycle
• On Tech Ethics Podcast – Understanding the Regulation of Cell Therapy Products
• CITI Program Media Playlist – April 9, 2026
• CITI Program Funding Finds – April 14, 2026
• What CITI Program is Reading – April 15, 2026
• Academic Leadership and Its Impact on Mental Health in Research
• Supporting Mental Health in Academia: The Importance of Training and Education
• CITI Program Media Playlist – April 22, 2026
• What Are the Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPs)? A Privacy Guide
• What CITI Program is Reading – April 29, 2026
• On Research Podcast – Protecting Innovation: COGR’s Guidance on Research Security for Tech Transfer
• Avoiding FDA Warning Letters: How Clinical Investigators Can Partner with IRBs to Stay Compliant
  • Written by yours truly!
• NIH SBIR/STTR Is Back: Preparing for the Next Funding Cycle

(Back to the Contents)

Council on Governmental Relations (COGR)

Below is a list of updates starting from March 2026 to present.

• COGR Submits Comments on NIH Draft Controlled-Access Data Policy and Proposed Revisions to the Genomic Data Sharing Policy
• COGR Litigation Update Tracker (Updated, V.3)
• COGR Matrix of Laws, Regulations, and Policies Regarding Science & Security
• COGR’s March 2026 Update
• COGR Litigation Update Tracker (Updated, V.4)
• COGR Summary of Executive Orders (V.19)
• COGR Signs On to Community Letter to GSA Regarding SAM Registration Requirements for Federal Financial Recipients
• COGR Submits Letter to GSA on SAM Registration Requirements for Federal Financial Assistance
• COGR Submits Comments on NIH Draft Controlled-Access Data Policy and Proposed Revisions to the Genomic Data Sharing Policy
• COGR Summary of Executive Orders (V.20)
• NIH Notice NOT-OD-26-072 – Indirect Cost Provisions and Uniform Guidance Implementation
• COGR Response to NIH RFI on Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research (NOT-OD-26-031)

(Back to the Contents)

Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS)

Below is a list of updates starting from March 2026 to present.

• 3rd Webinar on Artificial intelligence in pharmacovigilance
• CIOMS Newsletter #53

(Back to the Contents)

International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH)

Below is a list of updates starting from March 2026 to present.

• Updated and Expanded ICH Q9(R1) Quality Risk Management Briefing Pack Now Available
• Training Module Issued for ICH Guideline M15 on Model-informed Drug Development

(Back to the Contents)

National Academies

Below is a list of updates starting from March 2026 to present.

• Submission Period Now Open for the 2026 Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications; $640,000 To Be Awarded (Press Release)
• Policy Issues for Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Research and Care: A Workshop (Press Release)
• PNAS Announces 2025 Cozzarelli Prize Recipients (Press Release)
• Committee Member Showcase: Applied AI to Extend the Healthspan (Press Release)
• Integrating Data and Computing into K-12 Education Is Critical and Requires Coordinated Approach To Be Effective, Says New Report (Press Release)
• Data and Computing in K–12 Education: Foundational Competencies (Publication)
• An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research: Fiscal Year 2025 (Publication)
• Bolstering National Science and Technology Competitiveness Through Effective Science Communication: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief (Publication)
• Frontiers of Statistics in Science and Engineering: 2035 and Beyond (Publication)
• Priorities for Sustainable and Responsible Development of Offshore Renewable Energy on the West Coast Outlined in New Report (Press Release)
• Clinicians Should Focus on Symptom Evaluation and Continuity of Care Following Jet Fuel Releases in Oahu, Says New Report Examining Health Risks from Potential Exposures (Press Release)
• Space Science Week Plenary Session (Press Release)
• An Instrument Nature Can Play: Data, Sound, and the Work of Imagination in Science (Press Release)
• Join Us for Space Science Week 2026 (Press Release)
• NAS Members Receive Turing Award (Press Release)
• Virginia Crossroads: Flood Resilience Across the Commonwealth (Press Release)
• International Member Awarded Abel Prize (Press Release)
• As Electricity Demand Grows and Risks Increase, Experts Examine How the Grid Can Keep Up (Press Release)
• President Marcia McNutt Reflects on Her Leadership of NAS (Press Release)
• NAE Members Appointed to President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (Press Release)
• Space Science Week 2026 Recap (Press Release)
• Policy Issues for Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Research and Care: A Workshop (Press Release)
• Climate Conversations: Parks & Recreation (Press Release)
• Committee Marks Half Century of Protecting Human Rights (Press Release)
• A Congressman’s Vision for America’s Next Era in Space (Press Release)
• Artemis II Marks New Age for Lunar Exploration and Beyond (Press Release)
• Understanding TBI as a Chronic Condition (Press Release)
• Following the Success of Artemis II, Scientists Will Shape What Comes Next for Lunar Exploration (Press Release)
• Ann Brach Appointed Executive Director of Transportation Research Board at National Academies (Press Release)
• NAS President Marcia McNutt to Deliver Annual State of the Science Address on June 2 (Press Release)
• Securing AI Systems: New Challenges and Research Priorities (Press Release)
• Matt Sigelman Discusses What Lies Ahead for the U.S. Labor Market (Press Release)
• Message from the Chief Development Officer – 2025 Donor Impact Report (Press Release)
• Opportunities to Prevent Pregnancy-Related Cardiovascular Disease and Maternal Mortality Identified in New Report (Press Release)
• Frontiers Planet Prize Names 25 National Champions for 2026 (Press Release)
• Gulf Futures Challenge Awards $20 Million Each to Two Projects Building a Safer, More Resilient Gulf Coast (Press Release)
• Gulf Futures Challenge Winners Offer Bold Solutions for Offshore and Resilience Challenges (Press Release)
• Join Us April 24-26 for the 163rd NAS Annual Meeting (Press Release)
• Science, Society, and Culture: Brandon Ogbunu’s Case for a More Creative Scientific Enterprise (Press Release)
• NAS Elects 2026 Class of New Members (Press Release)
• National Academies Presidents’ Statement on Value of National Science Board (Press Release)
• Transforming Transportation: Leveraging the Power of Artificial Intelligence, Digitalization, and Automation (Press Release)
• Supporting Responsible Innovation of Synthetic Cells (Press Release)
• Biological Threats in the Age of Emerging Biotechnology: Proceedings of a Workshop Series (Publication)
• Exploring Key Research and Monitoring Topics for U.S. Engagement in the Fifth International Polar Year: Proceedings of a Workshop (Publication)
• An Assessment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research: Fiscal Year 2025 (Publication)
• Frontiers of Materials That Learn: Proceedings of a Workshop (Publication)
• Bolstering National Science and Technology Competitiveness Through Effective Science Communication: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief (Publication)
• Exploring Applications of AI in Genomics and Precision Health: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief (Publication)
• Supporting Responsible Innovation of Synthetic Cells: Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Environmental Considerations (Publication)

(Back to the Contents)

Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R)

PRIM&R has announced that early registration is now open for the 2026 Annual Conference. Take advantage of early registration savings on full conference registration, with additional discounts available for PRIM&R members. Early registration ends August 1, so be sure to register soon: https://primr26.eventscribe.net/ 

PRIM&R is also celebrating Member Appreciation Month throughout May with special perks and benefits for members, including program discounts, newly available free program recordings, prize drawings featuring rewards such as complimentary 2026 Annual Conference registration and a free year of PRIM&R membership, the launch of the CIP® and CPIA® Companions, and more. Learn more: https://community.primr.org/member-home/mam

We thank you for personally sharing this update with the S.P.I.R.I.T. community.

Below is a list of updates starting from March 2026 to present.

• PRIM&R and Emory University Host Regional Summit Exploring AI, New Approach Methodologies in Research Ethics (Press Release)
• E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice (GCP): FDA’s Current Thinking on Clinical Trials (Ampersand)
  • Written by yours truly!
• PRIM&R Statement: Genetic Data Misuse in Federally Supported Pediatric Research (Ampersand)
• PRIM&R and AAHRPP Submit Recommendations to NIH on Controlled-Access Data Policy and Proposed Revisions to Genomic Data Sharing Policy (Press Release)

(Back to the Contents)

---

I hope you found this update helpful!