Research Congruency Review

As a federally funded institution, Rice University is committed to ensuring animal research complies with applicable federal and institutional oversight requirements. The Office of Research Integrity (ORI) houses the IACUC office responsible for verifying that the animal activities described in funded proposals align with approved IACUC protocol(s), following OLAW guidance on grants policy and congruence: OLAW Congruence Review.

When is a congruency review required?

Any funded projects involving animal research require a congruency review. The research procedures and animal activities described in the grant or contract must be covered under an approved IACUC protocol and receive approval from the oversight committee before research funds can be released.

Review Process:

The IACUC congruency reviewer compares the grant proposal with the approved IACUC protocol(s). If additional details or clarification are needed, the reviewer will contact the Principal Investigator (PI) and copy the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) representative and the PI’s designated administrator.

After Review:
Upon completing the verification, the IACUC congruency reviewer notifies the PI and copies the OSP representative and department administrator, as appropriate.

Notes:

• The ORI IACUC office typically does not receive notification when NIH proposals receive a potentially fundable impact or priority score. If such notification is received, the PI or OSP representative is encouraged to proactively request a grant compliance review to facilitate a timely turnaround.
• If live animal studies are conducted by external collaborators or service providers, and Rice is involved, an off-site protocol must be submitted for review. Rice PIs working with external collaborators are also required to complete a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

• Researchers are encouraged to consult with the appropriate compliance offices early in the grant preparation or award setup process to avoid delays. Depending on the nature of the funded award, additional approvals may be required prior to the release of research funds.

Examples include:

• Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC): Projects involving biohazardous materials, recombinant DNA, or other agents requiring biosafety oversight must receive approval from the IBC. Please contact an IBC Administrator for additional information by clicking here.
  
• Conflict of Interest (COI): While a direct Conflict of Interest review is not conducted during this process (any potential financial conflicts with funded research are required to be disclosed. Please contact a COI Administrator for additional information by clicking here.

To request a grant compliance review or ask questions about this process, you can call (713) 348-2342 or by emailing res_congruency@rice.edu or iacuc@rice.edu

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)