New NIH Policy on Disciplinary Action Involving Investigators and Key Personnel

To ensure and promote safe working conditions in the research environment, the University of Utah's Research Integrity Office (RIO) will notify NIH when key personnel are removed from their position or are otherwise disciplined due to concerns about harassment, bullying, retaliation, or hostile working conditions.

As of July 9, 2022 (see NOT-OD-22-129), the University of Utah must report when “individuals identified as a principal investigator or as key personnel in an NIH notice of award are removed from their position or are otherwise disciplined due to concerns about harassment, bullying, retaliation, or hostile working conditions.” Since the University of Utah is an NIH recipient institution, it is mandatory to report the circumstances and resulting disciplinary action to NIH within 30 days of the decision.

At this time, NIH is the only federal agency that has implemented mandatory reporting on unprofessional behavior. Other federal funding agencies, such as NSF, are likely to adopt similar policies in the near term.

For questions, please contact the RIO (Dr. Caren Frost) at researchintegrity@utah.edu.