Research Integrity and Compliance

Export Controls are US Government laws and regulations that control or restrict the release of critical technologies, information, and services to foreign nationals – inside and outside of the United States – and foreign countries for reasons of foreign policy and national security. Vanderbilt University is a teaching and research environment dedicated to openness and the free exchange of fundamental research. However, the University recognizes that certain activities may be subject to federal export controls and, therefore, is committed to complying with US laws and regulations. Vanderbilt’s Export Compliance office is dedicated to providing assistance and resources for all of the University’s export control-related activities.

For more information on Vanderbilt University Export Compliance, click here.

To report export compliance issues, email: vec@vanderbilt.edu

Vanderbilt University soft-launched a new Human Research Protections Program with a Social, Behavioral, and Educational Research (SBER) Institutional Review Board (IRB) on March 3, 2025.

This new VU SBER IRB oversees the majority of human research conducted at the university, offering tailored support for SBER studies while enabling the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) IRB to focus on biomedical and clinical research.

For more information on the Vanderbilt University Human Research Protections Program and Internal Review Board (IRB), click here.

To report VU Human Research Protections Program and SBER IRB issues, email: irb@vanderbilt.edu 

Research security is a relatively new term that covers a wide range of federal initiatives meant to protect academic research from being misappropriated to the detriment of national security. These initiatives have been enumerated in National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM -33), subsequent guidance from the Office of Science and Technology Policy in 2024, and the CHIPS and Science Act (also known as CHIPS). NSPM-33 and CHIPS require universities, including Vanderbilt, to take active measures to safeguard research. These initiatives have led to the creation of new rules and a closer review of international collaborations that may affect your work. Please follow the links to the right for more information, tools, and best practices to help manage these new research security requirements and expectations.

To find more information on how to navigate research security rules that accompany international collaboration, click here. 

To report any research security issues, email: ric@vanderbilt.edu

At Vanderbilt University, the Deans of the schools are responsible for assuring that the University’s and VUMC’s standards for faculty conduct are observed. This includes alleged misconduct in research. 

The University defines misconduct by individuals involved in research or research training as:

1) falsification, fabrication, or theft of data or samples;

2) plagiarism;

3) unauthorized use of privileged information;

4) abuse of authorship; or

5) significant failure to comply with federal, state, University, as or Vanderbilt University Medical Center rules governing research (or with appropriate professional or international rules when research is conducted outside the United States): examples include rules involving human subjects, animals, recombinant DNA, new drugs, new devices, radioactive materials, and preservation of antiquities and natural resources.

Any allegation of misconduct can be brought in written form to the attention of the Dean of the relevant school, who, in turn, will notify the Provost of the existence of the allegations. A list of the Vanderbilt University Deans can be found here. The Dean will then follow the procedures outlined in the "Disciplinary Actions" chapter of the Faculty Manual. 

• Text: 1-833-868-2639
• Submit a report online