New Guidelines Regarding Research

Per CSU policy (See attached) any research involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional review board. The policy states:

(A) Purpose.  
In order to protect the rights, well-being, and personal privacy of individuals; to assure a favorable climate for the conduct of scientific inquiry; and to protect the interests of the university, the policies and procedures described below have been established for the conduct of investigations and educational projects involving human beings.  To implement these policies and procedures, the Central State University Institutional Review Board (the human subjects review board hereinafter called IRB), under the direction of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs or designee, will be established.  The IRB and policies and procedures are in accordance with United States Department of Health and Human Services regulations for the protection of human research subjects (45 CFR 46, as amended).

(B) Responsibilities of the IRB.
The IRB, under the direction of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee, has the following responsibilities:
1.    To review on a continuing basis the university’s policies and procedures with respect to the use of human subjects, and to establish guidelines and to make policy recommendations as desirable or necessary.
2.    To review all research projects involving human subjects with authority to approve, require modification, disapprove, or terminate.  The IRB must determine that:
a.    Risks to subjects are minimized,
b.    Risks are reasonable in relation to benefits,
c.     Selection of subjects is equitable,
d.    That informed consent is obtained and documents, when appropriate, and
e.    There are adequate provisions to protect privacy of subjects and confidentiality of data.
3.    To provide assistance and advice in research involving human subjects, and to implement the guidelines and policies of the university and the federal government through the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research which has general administrative responsibility for human subject matters.

Faculty or staff member members wishing to conduct or supervise human subjects research are required to go through the online training course at:

http://phrp.nihtraining.com

This online course provides the minimum requirement for investigators. I recommend that you also require students that wish to conduct human subjects research to go through the online training.

The IRB committee meets on the second Friday of September, November, February & April[1] <#_ftn1> . All applications must be submitted one week prior to the scheduled meetings. Notification will be given within one month from the date of application submission. In case of urgency, the committee can be called together. Please allow ten business days for decisions.

Faculty/staff members wishing to serve on the IRB may contact me. The role and responsibilities of the IRB are also attached to this message. If you have questions, please contact me.