Research Compliance

The Hunter College Human Research Protections Program (HRPP) Office serves to support the Hunter research community involved human subject research. The HRPP Office ensures that all areas of research comply with federal and state regulations, university policies, and high ethical standards.

The Institutional Review Board has been formally designated by CUNY to approve, monitor, and review biomedical and behavioral research involving humans with the aim of protecting the rights and welfare of the subjects. An IRB performs critical oversight functions for research involving human subjects. IRBs are guided by the Belmont Report. IRBs are required for all institutions that receive federal funding, directly or indirectly.

To submit to the CUNY IRB, please log into Ideate (https://ideate.cuny.edu) using your CUNY Portal credentials.

For additional guidance please refer to the “How to Apply” link on the left-hand navigation pane.

Contact Information

• Arita Winter-Potter, Director of Research Compliance – Office of HRPP
  • Email: aw4338@hunter.cuny.edu
  • Phone: 212-650-3053

Whenever an animal is in anyway forced into the service of man, every one of us must be concerned with the sufferings it has to undergo.

– Albert Schweitzer

Both federal and state regulations require the humane treatment of animals used in research and educational activities. Meeting these requirements is the mission of the Hunter College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee IACUC. Quality science requires quality animal care. The IACUC partners with the researcher to ensure animal experiments are conducted in accordance with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical standards.

All studies involving live vertebrate animals must be approved by the IACUC. This requirement extends to field research projects and other off-campus projects conducted by Hunter faculty and staff.

Training

New graduate students and postdocs who will work with animals on approved protocols should follow these steps:

1. Begin the training program at their convenience by logging onto CITI Program and selecting City University of New York as their institution.
2. After registering, select the CUNY curriculum option “Take the Working with the IACUC Course” and then select “Research Team” as the appropriate “Learner Group”. Those students who will work with fish only should select “Working with Fish in Research” as the appropriate “Learner Group”.
3. After completing all of the tests for the required modules, students will have the opportunity to print a certification page.
4. They should present a copy of the completion report and the IACUC “Certification for Personnel” form to Sonia Acevedo (Animal Facility Training Coordinator). The certification form should be signed by the Principal Investigator and the trainee indicating that the trainee is familiar with procedures described in the IACUC protocol.
5. After receiving the two forms, Sonia will schedule a tour of the animal facility and arrange appropriate hands-on training for those who will need access to the Animal Facility.

IACUC Schedules

• IACUC Meeting & Submissions Schedule Fall 2024 and Jan 2025

IACUC Forms

• Animal Purchase Approval
• Certification for Personnel
• Protocol Review Form
• Technique Protocol Review Form

IACUC Guidelines and Guidance Materials

• Analgesia Guidelines
• Assessing Pain in Laboratory Animals
• Guidelines for Food or Fluid Restriction
• Guidelines for Human Endpoints
• Guidelines for Prolonged Restraint
• Guidelines for Survival Bleeding of Mice and Rats
• Guidelines for Determining Appropriate Animal Numbers
• Policy for Animal Acquisition

For Further Information

• About NIH policy on animal care and handling
• About NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
• About Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC)
• About alternatives to animal use

Contact Information

• Annmarie Rivera, Research Administration
  • Email: nrivera@hunter.cuny.edu
  • Phone: 212-772-4020

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is responsible for reviewing and approving recombinant DNA research and aspects of projects involving biohazards and radiation. The committee sets containment levels in accordance with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Contact Information

• Email: ehs@hunter.cuny.edu
• Phone: 212-772-5260

CUNY’s policy and procedures addressing conflict of interest (COI) are designed to ensure that all activities are conducted according to the highest standards of integrity and ethics. They apply to the University’s officers, full- or part-time employees of the University, and all students and post-doctoral fellows.

• Instructions on Completing the CITI Training
• Office of Research Administration Alert on COI

CUNY Forms

• CUNY Significant Financial Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form for PHS Grants
• CUNY Significant Financial Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form for non PHS grants
• CUNY Significant Financial Conflict of Interest Supplemental Form for PHS grants
• CUNY Significant Financial Conflict of Interest Supplemental Form for non PHS grants

For questions about forms, training, and policies, please contact:

• Sujeidy Morales, Office of Research Administration
  • Email: smo0031@hunter.cuny.edu
  • Phone: 212-772-4020

• Krystal Santiago, Grants and Contracts Administrative Assistant
  • • Email: ksa0003@hunter.cuny.edu
    • Phone: 212-772-4020

Contact Information

• Travis McCarthy, College Conflict of Interest Officer
  • Email: tm4699@hunter.cuny.edu
  • Phone: 212-650-3053

CUNY is committed to the responsible and ethical conduct of research. CUNY’s RCR program and related resources can be found on the CUNY website. Effective August 1, 2012 all faculty, postdoctoral researchers, graduate and undergraduate students involved in research-related activities must complete the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative’s (CITI) Responsible Conduct of Research Training. For more information on how to complete this training please see:

• Instructions on Completing the CITI Training
• Office of Research Administration Alert on RCR

The Research Integrity Officer (RIO) is the official at the College designated by the President of the College to be responsible for receiving allegations of Research Misconduct, making recommendations on whether such allegations warrant Inquiries, serving on any Inquiry Staff, and assisting in Investigations at the College. The Research Integrity Officer is in charge of providing training to faculty, staff, and/or post-doctoral associates at the College.

For questions about forms, training, and policies, please contact:

• Sujeidy Morales, Office of Research Administration
  • Email: smo0031@hunter.cuny.edu
  • Phone: 212-772-4020

• Krystal Santiago, Grants and Contracts Administrative Assistant
  • • Email: ksa0003@hunter.cuny.edu
    • Phone: 212-772-4020

Contact Information

• Arita Winter-Potter, Research Integrity Officers
  • Email: aw4338@hunter.cuny.edu
  • Phone: 212-650-3053

For over 60 years, the federal government has enforced laws restricting the export of certain goods, technologies and information. There are two main sets of laws: the Export Administration Regulations (EARs), administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITARs), administered by the U.S. Department of State. Restrictions on transactions with certain specific countries under embargoes are enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury through its Office of Foreign Assets (OFAC). Even some research activities that take place solely on the University campus may be subject to the provisions of the EARs and ITARs.

Contact Information

• Arita Winter-Potter, Director of Research Compliance – Office of HRPP
  • Email: aw4338@hunter.cuny.edu
  • Phone: 212-650-3053