Frequently Asked Questions

Listed below are some of the questions that are frequently asked of our office. If you have a question that is not answered here, please feel free to use the electronic comment sheet, call or visit the HSPO.

 

 

How do you define "Research" and "Human Participant"?

Human research is defined under DHHS regulations as any systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge; under FDA regulations as any experiment that involves a test article and one or more human subjects and is or is not subject to certain FDA requirements.

A human participant under DHHS regulations means an individual about whom an investigator who is conducting research obtains: (1) data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) identifiable private information; under FDA regulations means an individual who is or becomes a participant in research, either as a recipient of the test article or as a control and includes a human on whose specimen an investigational device is used.

Does the IRB need to look at this project?

The institution relies on the IRB to make this assessment due to the complexity of the rules, which necessitates that investigators communicate initially with the IRB - even if the answer is subsequently No.   Call the Human Subjects Protection Office (HSPO), at extension 5687 and ask to speak to or meet personally with an IRB Coordinator.   Several decision charts are available to help you prepare for the questions that will need to be addressed to make the determination.

What type of IRB review is required?

The review levels and definitions are outlined by federal regulations and summarized in the reference documents 'Types of Review' and 'Expedited and Exempt Categories'.

What is the estimated time line from submission of protocol to approval?

The average turnaround time for is 2 months for new research undergoing full (convened) IRB review. This average includes 3 weeks submission time for pre-review period, 1 week for post meeting communication, and additional time needed by the principal investigator to address IRB stipulations required for approval.

What is the deadline for submissions to the IRB?

Requests for exemption determination and expedited research are reviewed in the order received. Submissions for convened board review of new research are due 3 weeks prior to the IRB meeting (the board meets on the first and third Monday).  The first 10 new submissions received by a deadline are included on the agenda, if complete and ready for IRB review. (A pre-review process is performed at the time of submission which may require the investigator to make changes to the application before it is forwarded to the board members for review.) When the 10-protocol limit is reached the agenda closes and any remaining submissions are placed on the following agenda. See IRB Schedule for meeting dates and deadlines.

Are there fees for regulatory compliance review?

A regulatory Compliance Fee is accessed to support the activities of the Human Subjects Protection Office and the Office of Research Affairs. The fee is based on the type of IRB Review required (e.g. convened "full board" review, expedited, exemption determination, annual review, amendment, etc.). For a fee schedule and additional details, see the information on the Office of Research Affairs website under Policies and Guidelines.

How do I close my study?

For full board and expedited studies, fill out a Progress Report Form at the time you wish to close your study.**  For exempt studies, submit a letter explaining that study activities have been completed and a statement that the investigator has closed the protocol. 

**Please note:  You must continue providing progress reports for continuation review on your research until ALL data analysis is completed.   A continuing review of a study in the data analysis phase will receive expedited review.

Who is required to complete the tutorial on human subjects protection?

In order to participate in the conduct of research, all investigators and key research personnel* involved with human participant research must complete the basic course and meet the continuing education requirements every 3 years. See Educational Resources for complete details.