Elizabeth Boyd Named UCSF Research Integrity Officer

Elizabeth Boyd, UCSF’s associate vice chancellor, Ethics and Compliance, has been named the UCSF Research Integrity Officer (RIO).

Elizabeth Boyd

Sally Marshall, PhD, vice provost of Academic Affairs, has served as the RIO for the last seven years. 

UCSF must follow procedures that comply with federal regulations. The RIO is responsible for receiving, assessing and overseeing the investigation of allegations of research misconduct. 

Research misconduct is defined in UCSF’s Integrity of Research Policy as “fabrication, falsification or plagiarism.” 

“Proper reporting of allegations of research misconduct is crucial,” said Marshall. “Individuals should not investigate these kinds of issues on their own, because this may compromise the evidence needed to conduct a proper investigation. Instead, the allegations should be reported to the RIO. “

Associate Vice Chancellor Boyd, who already responsible for many areas relating to ethics and compliance, took on this responsibility effective Feb. 10.  “It makes good sense to consolidate the function of the RIO under the umbrella of Ethics and Compliance – that is the reason for the shift of responsibility to my office,” Boyd said. 

UCSF’s handling of research misconduct allegations is subject to oversight by the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) in Rockville, MD. 

“UCSF is strongly committed to research conducted with the highest integrity and excellence, and has established clear and compliant procedures to implement the UCSF Integrity of Research Policy,” Boyd said.

More information is available on the UCSF Ethics and Compliance website.  

Anyone with questions should contact Associate Vice Chancellor Boyd, 415/476-9371; or Academic Labor/Relations Analyst Melanie Fisch, 415/476-4574.  

Photo by Susan Merrell