The "Quest for Research Excellence" 2012 conference will take place March 15-16, 2012, and will be at Georgetown University's Leavey Conference Center and Hotel, 3800 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington DC 20057.

Plenary speakers include:

• Dr. Jonathan Beckwith, a molecular biologist from Harvard University, and the author of "Making Genes, Making Waves: A Social Activist in Science"
• Dr. Marlene Belfort, a molecular biologist from the State University of New York in Albany, who will present "Work-Life Balance, Domestic Equilibrium and Research Excellence"
• Kayte Spector-Bagdady, Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, and one of the authors of "Ethically Impossible: STD Research in Guatemala from 1946-48."

There will be more than 27 poster and 80 oral presentations on education in responsible conduct of research (RCR) and findings from research on research integrity (RRI).  Additionally, a special track dedicated to research integrity officers (RIOs) will contain elements of a "mini RIO boot camp" led by ORI directors and attorneys. These sessions will be held on Thursday, March 15, and are included in the regular registration.

Joe Palca, science correspondent for National Public Radio, will moderate the Regulators' Studio, featuring the Office for Laboratory Animal Welfare, Office for Human Research Protections, Office for Research Integrity, National Institutes of Health Office of the Director, and the White House Office of Science Technology Policy.

Attendees will include RIOs, research administrators, educators of responsible conduct of research, researchers of research integrity (biomedical and social scientists), postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, government officials, medical research institutions, professional societies, journalists, international research integrity regulators from Africa, South America, and Australia, etc.

For more information about the conference, go to http://www.regonline.com/questconference.  For a preliminary program, click on the tab "agenda" on the conference website.