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Policies and Procedures for
Conducting Research with Human Subjects
Prepared by the
Becker College Institutional Review Board
Roseanne Barrett, Ph.D., R.N., Chair
Vera Mauk, M.A.
Beth Greenberg, Ph.D.
Curvin Huber, MFA, M.S.
Judith Pare, Ph.D., R.N.
Jennifer Madson, B.A.
Nina Mazloff, M.S.
Anna Titova, Ph.D.
Pat Pulda, M.Ed., M.A.L.A.
Approved: June 30, 2016
Scheduled for Review: June 30, 2018
Revised:
Acknowledgements
The organization, structure and text of this manual were compiled from other college and
university IRB sources. The Becker College IRB gratefully acknowledges the contributions by
Amherst College, Anna Maria College, Regis College and California State Polytechnic University,
Pomona.
Table of Contents
Overview and Purpose/Statement of Principles/IRB Membership
Initial Training and Ongoing Education of Chair and IRB Members
Duties of IRB Members
IRB Review Process
Categories of Review
Informed Consent
Submission of Request for Human Subjects Research
College Records
Review Outcomes
Appeals
Progress and Incident Reporting
Research Conducted Outside the U.S.
Research at Becker College by Outside Investigators
Research at Off-Campus Sites
Training
Principal Investigator Responsibilities
Useful Web Links
Professional Organization Ethics Guidelines (web links)
Glossary of Terms
Appendix A: Becker College IRB Application
Appendix B: Becker College Informed Consent Template
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Overview and Purpose
A glossary of highlighted terms (terms in boldface) is included at the end of this document.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is the entity charged with reviewing, prior to its
commencement, all funded and non-funded research involving human subjects conducted under
the auspices of Becker College by its faculty members, students, or staff, as well as research by
outside investigators using Becker College students, personnel, or facilities.
Research subject to review includes, but is not limited to, pilot studies, class projects aimed for
publication, master’s theses, doctoral dissertations, co-supervised work, independent research,
senior Capstone projects, and senior theses, whether such research takes place on or off the Becker
College campus, including work done outside of the United States.
Becker College’s IRB is registered with, and has an approved Federal Wide Assurance (FWA #________) from the Office for Human Research Protections.
Statement of Principles
Becker College assures that all of its activities related to human subjects research, regardless of the
source of support, will be guided by the following statement of principles governing the institution
in the discharge of its responsibilities for protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects of
research conducted at or sponsored by the institution.
 The Belmont Report: https://history.nih.gov/research/downloads/belmont.pdf
The Belmont Report identifies three fundamental ethical principles for all human
subject’s research – respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Those principles remain
the basis for the HHS human subject’s protection regulations.
 The Declaration of Helsinki: https://history.nih.gov/research/downloads/helsinki.pdf
The Declaration of Helsinki is a set of ethical principles regarding human
experimentation developed for the medical community by the World Medical Association
(WMA). The Declaration is an important document in the history of research ethics as it
is the first significant effort of the medical community to regulate research itself, and forms
the basis of most subsequent documents.
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IRB Membership
Members of the IRB are appointed by the Chief Academic Affairs Officer in consultation with the
IRB chair, and should represent a wide range of academic disciplines. The Chief Academic Affairs
Officer appoints the chair of the committee. Other IRB positions (compliance associate, initial
reviewer, expedited reviewer) are designated by the IRB chair. An investigator can be a member of
the IRB, however, the investigator-as-member cannot participate in the review and approval
process for any project in which he or she has a present or potential conflict of interest. Where
the investigator-member has a conflicting interest, he or she is present only to provide information
requested by the IRB. The criteria for IRB membership, as stipulated in 45 CFR 46.107, are as
follows:
a) The IRB shall have at least five members, with varying backgrounds, to promote complete and
adequate review of research activities commonly conducted by the institution. The IRB shall
be sufficiently qualified through the experience and expertise of its members, and the diversity
of the members, including consideration of race, gender, and cultural backgrounds and
sensitivity to such issues as community attitudes, to promote respect for its advice and
guidance in safeguarding the rights and welfare of human subjects. In addition to possessing
the professional competence necessary to review specific research activities, the IRB shall be
able to ascertain the acceptability of proposed research in terms of institutional commitments
and regulations, applicable law, and standards of professional conduct and practice. The IRB
shall therefore include persons knowledgeable in these areas. If the IRB regularly reviews
research that involves a vulnerable category of subjects, such as children, prisoners, pregnant
women, or handicapped or mentally disabled persons, consideration shall be given to the
inclusion of one or more individuals who are knowledgeable about and experienced in
working with these subjects.
b) Every nondiscriminatory effort will be made to ensure that the IRB does not consist entirely of
men or entirely of women, including the institution's consideration of qualified persons of
both sexes, so long as no selection is made to the IRB on the basis of gender. The IRB may not
consist entirely of members of one profession.
c) The IRB shall include at least one member whose primary concerns are in scientific areas and
at least one member whose primary concerns are in nonscientific areas.
d) The IRB shall include at least one member who is not otherwise affiliated with the institution
and who is not part of the immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the institution.
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e) The IRB may not have a member participate in the IRB's initial or continuing review of any
project in which the member has a conflicting interest, except to provide information
requested by the IRB.
f) The IRB may, in its discretion, invite individuals with competence in special areas to assist in
the review of issues which require expertise beyond or in addition to that available on the IRB.
These individuals may not vote with the IRB.
g) Any member may satisfy more than one membership category.
h) Appointments to the IRB are made for an annual, renewable, term of service. Any change in
appointment, including reappointment or removal, requires written notification. Members
may resign by written notification to the Chair.
Alternate members. The appointment and function of alternate members is the same as that for
primary (or regular) IRB members, and the alternate's expertise and perspective are comparable to
those of the primary member. The IRB membership roster identifies the primary member(s) for
whom each alternate member may substitute. Alternates may attend any IRB meeting and are
encouraged to attend as many meetings as possible. The alternate member will not be counted as a
voting member unless the primary member is absent. However, the alternate member may freely
participate in the discussion. When an alternate member substitutes for a primary member, the
alternate member will receive and review, prior to the IRB meeting, the same materials that the
primary member received or would have received. The IRB minutes will document when an
alternate member replaces a primary member. The alternate in attendance at a meeting is
empowered to vote on the approval of minutes when approved electronically even when not
serving as the primary member.
Training and Ongoing Education of Chair and IRB Members
A vital component of a comprehensive human research protection program is an education
program for the institution. Becker College is committed to providing training and an ongoing
educational process for IRB members, alternates, and staff of the Becker College IRB Office
related to ethical concerns and regulatory and institutional requirements for the protection of
human subjects.
Orientation. New IRB members, including alternates, have the opportunity to meet with the IRB
Chair and/or Compliance Associate for an informal orientation session. At the session, the new
member will be shown:
 the Office of Institutional Research website that incorporates the IRB pages
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navigation of the website to find the protocol application, training materials, and other
relevant information
records pertinent to the IRB kept in the Office of Institutional Research
Federal regulations relevant to IRB.
Initial Education. All IRB members are required to complete the National Institute of Health
(NIH) Protecting Human Research Participants (PHRP) training. This training consists of 7
modules, 4 of which are followed by quizzes. The training is completed online and takes
approximately 3 hours to complete: https://phrp.nihtraining.com/users/login.php.
To satisfy the initial education requirement, the IRB Chair and the IRB members must complete
the required training and pass all required quizzes contained therein. New members are required
to complete the initial education requirement for IRB members before they may serve as a Primary
Reviewer. IRB members must download a copy of the certificate verifying successful completion of
the NIH PHRP training. IRB members must submit a copy of the certificate to the Compliance
Associate prior to participation on the IRB.
Continuing Education. To ensure that oversight of human research is ethically grounded and the
decisions made by the IRB are consistent with current regulatory and policy requirements, training
is continuous for IRB members throughout their service on the IRB. Educational activities
include, but are not limited to:
 in-service training at IRB meetings
 training workshops
 reviewing copies of “IRB: Ethics and Human Research”
 dissemination of current events articles relevant to human research protection.
Duties of IRB Members
Members are expected to:
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review the materials (agenda, submission materials, protocols, proposed informed consent
forms, continuing review forms and other appropriate documents including research
materials) in a timely fashion
participate fully in the review of each proposed project
attend meetings of the IRB (see Attendance Requirements below)
critically review protocols against the principles of human subjects protection and the
policies of Becker College IRB Policies and Procedures Manual
receive appropriate training in human subjects regulations and ethical
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treat the research proposals, protocols, and supporting data confidentially, destroying hard
copies and deleting electronic copies and supporting material
participate in policy making discussions
self-identify when there is a conflict of interest
promote the principles of human subjects protection
Attendance Requirements. Primary members should attend all meetings for which they are
scheduled. If a member is unable to attend a scheduled meeting, he or she should inform the IRB
Chair or the Compliance Associate and contact his or her appropriate alternate to serve in place.
A prolonged absence (sabbatical, ‘FERP’ status, medical, etc.) should be discussed with the IRB
Chair or the Compliance Associate to discuss options to maintain compliance with regulations
dictating committee composition.
Liability Coverage for IRB Members
Becker College will indemnify and defend College faculty and staff performing within the course
and scope of their employment with regard to IRB responsibilities. This coverage extends to those
under the supervision of faculty and staff (i.e., students) and volunteers (i.e., external or
unaffiliated IRB members) for the College.
The IRB Review Process
Application. Faculty members, staff members, or students who are planning research projects
involving human subjects are responsible for beginning the review process by emailing the Request
for Approval of Human Subjects Research forms to the IRB at [email protected] . (see Submitting a
Request for Approval for Human Subjects Research section below).
Review. The Initial Reviewer assigns the proposal to one of three categories: Level I: Exempt (no
foreseeable risk), Level II: Expedited Review (minimal risk), and Level III: Full Board Review (more
than minimal risk and protected subjects). If the Initial Reviewer wishes to submit his or her own
proposal to the IRB, it is sent to the Expedited Reviewer. If the Expedited Reviewer submits his or
her own proposal to the IRB, it is not eligible for expedited review.
It is expected that most research projects may fall into the Exempt category. Research in this
category requires no further review beyond the initial review level. Those proposals the Initial
Reviewer decides require Expedited Review will be forwarded to the Expedited Reviewer, a
member of the IRB who has been designated by the committee’s chair to conduct expedited
reviews. Proposals judged by the Initial Reviewer to require Full review will be forwarded to the
chair of the IRB committee, and the IRB as a whole will perform the review. All research proposals
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evaluated by the Initial Reviewer, the Expedited Reviewer, or the full IRB committee are done so
with regard to the degree of “risk,” if any, to human subjects.
If a research proposal is determined by the Initial Reviewer to involve minimal risk (defined in
Expedited Review Part A.4), he or she will send the proposal to the Expedited Reviewer for
Expedited Review. The proposed research must involve no more than minimal risk, and the
involvement of human subjects must fall under one or more of the categories specified under
Expedited Review. Full Committee Review is required when the procedures of the research
present more than minimal risk to the subject and/or fall into one or more of the categories
specified under Full Committee Review.
Outcomes. There are four possible outcomes to a review:
Approved: No further action is required from the investigator prior to initiating the study.
Approved if Designated Revisions are made: The investigator may initiate the study after
requested changes are made, and the IRB receives these revisions and notifies the
investigator that he or she may proceed.
Revise and Resubmit: More extensive changes are required before the study may begin.
Additional information must be submitted to the IRB prior to approval.
Denied: The proposed research, because of the level of risk involved, cannot be initiated.
Expiration and Renewal. Research approved by the IRB that is continuing must be re-reviewed on
an annual basis by the IRB. The Initial Reviewer will determine whether a Full or Expedited
Review is required for re-review.
Categories of Review
All research, including that which the investigator believes falls into the Exempt category, must be
submitted to the Initial Reviewer for confirmation of the relevant review category. The criteria
used to determine the categories of review are described below.
Please note that according to Office for Human Research Protection (OHRP), oral history projects
are excluded from IRB review. However, the treatment of participants in oral history projects
must conform to the standards of the Oral History Association and/or other professional
organizations in the field.
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● Exempt
Part A (all items must apply)
1. The research does not involve as subjects prisoners, fetuses, pregnant women, the critically ill,
or mentally or cognitively compromised adults.
2. The research does not involve the collection or recording of behavior which, if known outside
the research, could reasonably place subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging
to the subject’s financial standing, employability, or reputation.
3. The research does not involve the collection of information regarding sensitive aspects of
subjects’ behavior (e.g., drug or alcohol use, illegal conduct, sexual behavior).
4. The research does not involve subjects under the age of 18 (except as they are participating in
projects that fall under categories 1, 3, 4, and/or 5 in Part B). Category B 2 studies that include
minors should be submitted for expedited review.
5. The research does not involve deception.
6. The procedures of this research are generally free of foreseeable risk to the subject.
7. The research does not require a waiver from informed consent procedures.
Part B (at least one item should apply)
1. Research conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings and involving
normal educational practices (e.g., research on regular and special education instructional
strategies, research on instructional techniques, curricula, or classroom management methods).
2. Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement),
survey procedures, interview procedures or observation of public behavior, where information
is recorded anonymously (i.e., so that the human subject cannot be identified, directly or
indirectly through identifiers linked to the subject).All survey/interview/observational research
in which elected or appointed public officials or candidates for public office serve as subjects is
Exempt, whether or not data collection is anonymous.
3. Research involving the collection or study of existing data, documents, records, pathological
specimens, or diagnostic specimens. These sources must be either publicly available or the
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information must be recorded anonymously (i.e., in such a manner that subjects cannot be
identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subject).
4. Research (including demonstration projects) conducted by or subject to the approval of federal
department or agency heads, and designed to study, evaluate, or otherwise examine (i) public
benefit or service programs (e.g., social security, welfare, etc.); (ii) procedures for obtaining
benefits or services under those programs; (iii) possible changes in or alternatives to those
programs or procedures; or (iv) possible changes in methods or levels of payment for benefits
or services under those programs.
5. Research involving taste or food quality evaluations or consumer acceptance studies, where the
tested products are wholesome foods without additives or foods which contain additives at or
below levels found to be safe by the FDA or approved by the EPA of the Food Safety and
Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
● Expedited Review
Part A (all items must apply)
1. The research does not involve as subjects prisoners, fetuses, pregnant women, the critically ill,
or mentally or cognitively compromised adults.
2. The research does not involve the collection or recording of behavior which, if known outside
the research, could reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be
damaging to the subject’s financial standing, employability, or reputation.
3. The research does not involve the collection of information regarding sensitive aspects of the
subjects’ behavior (e.g., drug or alcohol use, illegal conduct, sexual behavior).
4. The procedures of this research present no more than minimal risk to the subject. (Minimal
risk means that the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the
proposed research are not greater than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the
performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests.)
Part B (at least one item should apply)
1. Research involving existing identifiable data, documents, records, or biological specimens
(including pathological or diagnostic specimens), where these materials, in their entirety, have
been collected prior to the research for a purpose other than the proposed research. These
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sources are not publicly available and, although confidentiality will be strictly maintained,
information will not be recorded anonymously (e.g., use will be made of audio or-videotapes,
names will be recorded, even if they are not directly associated with the data).
2. Collection of data through use of the following procedures: a) non-invasive procedures
routinely employed in clinical practice and not involving exposure to electromagnetic exposure
to electromagnetic radiation outside the visible range (i.e., not involving x-rays, microwaves,
etc.); b) physical sensors that are applied either to the surface of the body or at a distance and
do not involve input of significant amounts of energy into the subject or an invasion of the
subject's privacy; c) weighing, testing sensory acuity, electrocardiography,
electroencephalography, thermography, detection of naturally occurring radioactivity,
electroretinography, echography, sonography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),
diagnostic infrared imaging, doppler blood flow, and echocardiography; d) moderate exercise,
muscular strength testing, body composition assessment, and flexibility testing involving
healthy subjects.
3. Collection of data from voice, video, or image recordings made for research purposes where
identification of the subjects and/or their responses would not reasonably place them at risk of
criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subjects’ financial standing, employability, or
reputation.
4. Research on individual or group characteristics or behavior (including but not limited to
research involving perception, cognition, surveys, interviews, and focus groups) as follows:
a) Involving adults, where (i) the research does not involve stress to subjects, and (ii)
identification of the subjects and/or their responses would not reasonably place them
at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subjects’ financial standing,
employability, or reputation;
b) Involving children, where (i) the research involves neither stress to subjects nor
sensitive information about themselves, or their family; (ii) no alteration or waiver of
regulatory requirements for parental permission has been proposed; and (iii)
identification of the subjects and/or their responses would not reasonably place them
or their family members at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the
financial standing, employability, or reputation of themselves or their family members.
5. Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement),
survey procedures, interview procedures, or observation of public behavior. Although
confidentiality will be strictly maintained, information will not be recorded anonymously (e.g.,
use will be made of audio or videotapes, names will be recorded, even if they are not directly
associated with the data).
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6. Research that involves deception. Deception must be scientifically justified and de-briefing
procedures must be outlined in detail.
7. Prospective collection for research purposes of biological specimens; research on drugs or
devices for which an investigational new drug exemption or an investigational device
exemption is not required; collection of blood samples by finger stick or venipuncture.
8. Research previously approved by the convened IRB as follows: (a) where (i) the research is
permanently closed to the enrollment of new subjects; (ii) all subjects have completed all
research-related interventions; and (iii) the research remains active only for long-term follow-up
of subjects; or (b) where the research remains active only for the purposes of data analysis; or
(c) where the IRB has determined that the research involves no greater than minimal risk and
no additional risks have been identified; (d) where no subjects have been enrolled and no
additional risks have been identified.
● Full Committee Review
If ANY of these apply:
1. The research involves prisoners, fetuses, pregnant women, the critically ill, or mentally or
cognitively compromised adults as subjects.
2. The research involves the collection or recording of behavior which, if known outside the
research, could reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging
to the subjects’ financial standing, employability, or reputation.
3. The research involves the collection of information regarding sensitive aspects of the subjects’
behavior (e.g., drug or alcohol use, illegal conduct, sexual behavior).
4. The procedures of the research involve more than minimal risk to the subject (where more
than minimal risk means that the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort
anticipated in the proposed research is greater than that ordinarily encountered in daily life or
during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests).
5. Any research which does not fall into any of the categories explicitly identified as qualifying for
Exempt or Expedited status.
6. Any research being proposed by investigators outside Becker College.
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Informed Consent
Required Components. Subjects must have sufficient information to make an informed decision
to participate in the research study. If subjects cannot give informed consent, it must be obtained
from their legal representatives. For example, when subjects are minors (under eighteen) or when
they are mentally incapacitated, legal representatives are required. Consent requests should be
either clearly written or orally conveyed in a manner understandable to subjects, using language
that is non-technical. Scientific, technical, or medical terms should be plainly defined.
Assent. Children (those under 18) should be given an explanation - at a level appropriate to the
child's age, maturity, experience, and condition - of the procedures to be used, their meaning to
the child in terms of discomfort and inconvenience, and the general purpose of the research.
Children should be asked if they wish to participate in the research or not. Mere failure to object
on the part of the child should not, in the absence of affirmative agreement, be construed as
assent. In the proposal, the investigator should indicate: 1) how assent will be obtained (what the
investigator will say to the child and whether or not the child's parent(s) or guardian(s) will be
present); 2) how assent will be documented. The child may either sign a very brief assent form or
verbally indicate a willingness to participate.
Exceptions. In all research involving human subjects, respondents must be made aware of the
nature and purpose of the research, of the voluntary character of their participation, of the
benefits and risks – if any – they may incur as a result of participation, and of the ways in which
their privacy will be protected. The method by which informed consent is obtained, however,
differs according to the type of research in question. In many cases, the use of informed consent
forms, signed by respondents, is the best means of obtaining consent. This is particularly true in
biomedical or clinical research, or in social scientific research that utilizes similar formats.
However, this method may be impossible to utilize in some types of social-scientific and
humanistic investigations, especially in research of the “participant-observation” type involving the
researcher’s immersion in the everyday life of a community. In research of this sort, knowledge is
typically gained through the give and take of ordinary conversation, often casual and in
unstructured situations, and by observing activities and interactions in their living context. In such
cases, the IRB may authorize oral informed consent—by which is meant consent obtained orally
without the use of written forms—under the following conditions: 1) the research involves no more
than minimal risk to respondents, 2) the substitution of an oral format will not harm respondents,
3) the research could not be carried out without the substitution, and 4) where appropriate,
respondents will be provided additional information after their participation. Oral consent will
also be allowed in research requiring the use of telephone interviews, provided that the
aforementioned conditions are met. In addition, oral consent will be authorized in cases in which
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a breach of confidentiality might be dangerous to respondents and the consent form is the only
the only link between the respondent and the research. Researchers have an obligation to ensure
that respondents understand the purpose and nature of the research, regardless of whether or not
consent documents are used.
Some research requires the use of mailed or emailed questionnaires. In such cases, a mailed or
emailed response will itself be regarded as evidence of informed consent, provided that the
questionnaire clearly explains the purpose and nature of the research.
Submission of Request for Human Subjects Research
Submit one signed copy of your Request for Approval for Human Subjects Research to the Office
of Institutional Research and submit an electronic, PDF version to [email protected]. This includes
the following:
 Description of Project and Procedures
 Acknowledgment of Ethical Concerns for Student Researchers or Participant Observers
 Consent Form
 Completion of NIH PRHP training certificate
College Records
The College keeps records of all original human subjects research, including request forms, IRB
decisions, and copies of any research documents (informed consent forms, questionnaires,
interview scripts, stress protocols, behavioral manipulation protocols, drug protocols, non-FDA
device protocols, debriefing forms, etc.). The Description of Project and Procedures Form is signed
by the researcher and co-signed by a faculty sponsor if the PI is a student. The aforementioned
documentation constitutes the full College records of any project approved by the committee. In
accordance with HHS regulations, IRB records will be retained for at least 3 years, and all records
relating to research which is conducted will be retained for at least 3 years after completion of the
research.
Review Outcomes
For proposals reviewed by the IRB, a letter will be sent to the investigator by the IRB chair,
indicating one of four possible outcomes:
1. Approved: A protocol that has been approved by the IRB requires no further action from
the investigator prior to initiating the study. If the study should extend beyond twelve
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months from the date of the initial IRB approval, the investigator is required to send a
letter to the IRB chair, informing him or her of the current status of the project, any
changes in the protocol, and whether any adverse events have occurred.
2. Approved if Designated Revisions are Made: A protocol that has been approved by the IRB on
the condition that designated changes are made by the investigator and given to the IRB
prior to initiating the study. If the study should extend beyond twelve months beyond the
date of the initial IRB approval, the investigator is required to send a letter to the IRB
chair, informing her/him of the current status of the project, any changes in the protocol,
and whether any adverse events have occurred.
3. Revise and Resubmit: A protocol that has been deferred by the IRB usually requires that
additional information be submitted to the IRB prior to approval. A revised application
should be submitted to the IRB clarifying the issues involved or providing the requested
documentation. The IRB will review the revised application at its next meeting.
4. Denial: A protocol that has been denied approval by the IRB cannot be initiated by the
investigator. The reasons for the denial are provided in writing. The investigator will be
given the opportunity to respond either in writing or in person at the next meeting of the
IRB.
Appeals
In the event that an application is denied because the IRB feels the risks outweigh the benefits of
the research, and the investigator disagrees with the committee’s disapproval decision, the
researcher may appeal the decision by re-submitting the same application form, along with the
following documents: 1) a letter of appeal presenting the researcher’s arguments for approval; and
2) any other pertinent information in support of the appeal. The letter should be directed to the
IRB Chair and mailed electronically with attachments to [email protected]. Applications submitted
for appeal will be considered by the full IRB at the next scheduled meeting date. The final decision
of the IRB will be stated in writing to the investigator. If the proposal is not approved, the research
cannot be conducted.
Progress and Incident Reporting
Approval of a human subject research proposal is valid for one year, unless the project has
acceptable but potential risk in which case approval is given for a six-month period. If the project
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will continue beyond the approval period, principal investigators are required to resubmit
documents for review prior to the expiration date of the initial approval. These documents should
include a status report of the project to date including:
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The number of subjects accrued.
Summary of adverse events and any unanticipated problems involving risks to subjects or
others and withdrawal of subjects from the research or complaints about the research since
the last review;
Summary of any relevant amendments or modifications to the research since the last
review;
Other relevant information, especially information about risks associated with the research;
and
Copy of the current informed consent document and any newly proposed consent
document.
In the initial approval letter, principal investigators are asked to promptly report any unanticipated
problems or adverse effects of the research to the IRB. The IRB must be notified if adverse events
occur and provided with information about all actions taken by the investigator to respond.
Data collection involving human subjects that extends beyond one year must be re-reviewed, and
re-approval granted, by the Initial Reviewer if the status of the research is exempt, or by the IRB if
the status of the research is expedited or requires Full IRB review.
Changes in the procedures of collecting data from human subjects must be re-reviewed and
approved by the Initial Reviewer and/or the IRB.
Research Conducted Outside of the United States
Research conducted outside of the United Sates by Becker faculty members, students, or staff must
be reviewed in accordance with Becker College IRB review procedures. Such research must also
conform to the standards for research involving human subjects of the host country. Collaboration
with colleagues at a local institution in the host country often provides a good method for
ensuring compliance with host country law and human subject conventions in research.
Research at Becker College by Outside Investigators
Outside investigators who wish to use Becker College students, faculty and/or staff as subjects
must send a formal request and a proposal to the Chief Academic Affairs Officer. The Chief
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Academic Affairs Officer will consult with the relevant department(s). If the request is approved
by the Chief Academic Affairs Officer and the department, the investigator should download and
complete the Request for Approval of Human Subjects Research forms, sign them, and email a
PDF of the forms to the IRB Chair at [email protected]. The materials will be forwarded to the IRB
for a Full Review.
Research Conducted at Off-Campus Sites
If some portion of the research is conducted at another institution, that institution must also
review and approve the research protocol. The Becker College IRB will normally request some
evidence of review and agreement from the host institution. If the host institution does not have a
Human Subjects Review Committee, a letter on institutional letterhead signed by an official of the
host institution agreeing to permit access to the study population will be required.
Training
Becker College requires all IRB members, designated reviewers, and principal investigators (faculty
members and students) to complete human subjects training. It is also important for investigators
who receive external funding to always check the awarding agency’s training requirements.
A copy of the certification of completion from one of the following three online training modules
must be submitted to the IRB. For either online option, (option A, B, or C), individuals register
online, complete the module, and print a certification of completion.
Option A
The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) of the U. S. Department of Health and
Human Services provides free online Human Subject Assurance Training at: http://ohrped.od.nih.gov/CBTs/Assurance/login.asp
Specifically, three training modules are offered at the OHRP site: (1) HHS Regulations and
Institutional Responsibilities; (2) Investigator Responsibilities and Informed Consent; and (3)
Human Research Protections Program. Though all are recommended, only Module 2 (Investigator
Responsibilities and Informed Consent) is required.
Option B
The National Institutes of Health free training module on Human Participant Protections
Education for Research Teams is available online
at: http://cme.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learning/humanparticipant-protections.asp.
15
Option C
The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) course in the Responsible Conduct of
Research (RCR) is located at: https://www.citiprogram.org.
Principal Investigator Responsibilities
The principal investigator (PI) is ultimately responsible for the conduct of research. PIs may
delegate research responsibility. However, they must maintain oversight and retain ultimate
responsibility for the conduct of those to whom they delegate responsibility. This policy applies to
faculty members and their students.
In order to satisfy the requirements of this policy, PIs who conduct research involving human
subjects must:
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develop and conduct research that is in accordance with the ethical principles in the
Belmont Report;
develop a research plan that is scientifically sound and minimizes risk to the subjects;
have sufficient resources necessary to protect human subjects, including supervision, a
sufficient number of appropriately trained staff, and appropriate support services;
protect the rights and welfare of prospective subjects;
have plans to monitor the data collected for the safety of research subjects;
have a procedure to receive complaints or requests for additional information from
subjects and respond appropriately;
ensure that pertinent laws, regulations, and institution procedures and guidelines are
observed by participating faculty and research staff;
obtain and document informed consent as required by the IRB and ensuring that no
human subject is involved in the research prior to obtaining their consent;
ensure that all research involving human subjects receives IRB review and approval in
writing before the commencement of the research;
comply with all IRB decisions, conditions, and requirements;
ensure that protocols receive timely continuing IRB review and approval;
report unexpected or serious adverse events to the IRB;
obtain IRB review and approval in writing before revisions are made to approved protocols
or consent forms; and
seek IRB assistance when in doubt about whether proposed research requires IRB review.
16
Useful Web Links
The Belmont Report
http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/index.html
Declaration of Helsinki
http://www.wma.net/en/30publications/10policies/b3/index.html
https://history.nih.gov/research/downloads/helsinki.pdf
Nuremberg Code
https://history.nih.gov/research/downloads/nuremberg.pdf
Office for Human Research Protections, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/
Office of Research Integrity, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
http://ori.hhs.gov/international
Protection of Human Subjects, Federal Guidelines
http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/45-cfr-46/index.html
President’s Council on Bioethics
http://www.bioethics.gov/
Jesse’s Intent
www.circare.org/submit/jintent.pdf
Professional Organization Ethics Guidelines (web links)
American Anthropological Association
http://www.americananthro.org/ParticipateAndAdvocate/CommitteeDetail.aspx?ItemNumber=2
219
American Counseling Association
https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
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American Political Science Association
http://www.apsanet.org/
American Psychological Association
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/
American Sociological Association
http://www.asanet.org/
American Statistical Association
http://www.amstat.org/about/ethicalguidelines.cfm
Association of American Geographers
http://www.aag.org/cs/about_aag/governance/statement_of_professional_ethics
Association of Internet Researchers
http://www.aoir.org/reports/ethics.pdf
Society for Applied Anthropology
https://www.sfaa.net/about/ethics/
Society for Neuroscience
http://www.sfn.org/
Society for Research in Child Development
http://www.srcd.org/about-us/ethical-standards-research
Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics
http://www.tuskegee.edu/about_us/centers_of_excellence/bioethics_center.aspx
18
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
(Source: IRB Guidebook)
http://wayback.archive-it.org/org745/20150930182832/http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/archive/irb/irb_glossary.htm
ABUSE-LIABLE: Pharmacological substances that have the potential for creating abusive
dependency. Abuse-liable substances can include both illicit drugs (e.g., heroine) and licit drugs
(e.g., methamphetamines).
ADAMHA: Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration; reorganized in October
1992 as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). ADAMHA
included the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Office for
Substance Abuse Prevention (OSAP), and the Office for Treatment Intervention (OTI). NIMH,
NIAAA, and NIDA are now part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). (See also: SAMHSA.)
ADJUVANT THERAPY: Therapy provided to enhance the effect of a primary therapy; auxiliary
therapy.
ADVERSE EFFECT: An undesirable and unintended, although not necessarily unexpected, result
of therapy or other intervention (e.g., headache following spinal tap or intestinal bleeding
associated with aspirin therapy).
ASSENT: Agreement by an individual not competent to give legally valid informed consent (e.g., a
child or cognitively impaired person) to participate in research.
ASSURANCE: A formal written, binding commitment that is submitted to a federal agency in
which an institution promises to comply with applicable regulations governing research with
human subjects and stipulates the procedures through which compliance will be achieved [45 CFR
46.103].
AUTHORIZED INSTITUTIONAL OFFICIAL: An officer of an institution with the authority
to speak for and legally commit the institution to adherence to the requirements of the federal
regulations regarding the involvement of human subjects in biomedical and behavioral research.
AUTONOMY: Personal capacity to consider alternatives, make choices, and act without undue
influence or interference of others.
19
AUTOPSY: Examination by dissection of the body of an individual to determine cause of death
and other medically relevant facts.
BELMONT REPORT: A statement of basic ethical principles governing research involving
human subjects issued by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects in
1978.
BENEFICENCE: An ethical principle discussed in the Belmont Report that entails an obligation
to protect persons from harm. The principle of beneficence can be expressed in two general rules:
(1) do not harm; and (2) protect from harm by maximizing possible benefits and minimizing
possible risks of harm.
BENEFIT: A valued or desired outcome; an advantage.
BIOLOGIC: Any therapeutic serum, toxin, anti-toxin, or analogous microbial product applicable
to the prevention, treatment, or cure of diseases or injuries.
BLIND STUDY DESIGNS: See: Masked Study Designs; Double-Masked Design; and Single-Masked
Design.
CADAVER: The body of a deceased person.
CASE-CONTROL STUDY: A study comparing persons with a given condition or disease (the
cases) and persons without the condition or disease (the controls) with respect to antecedent
factors. (See also: Retrospective Studies.)
CAT SCAN: Abbreviation for Computerized Axial Tomography, an X-ray technique for producing
images of internal bodily structures through the assistance of a computer.
CHILDREN: Persons who have not attained the legal age for consent to treatment or procedures
involved in the research, as determined under the applicable law of the jurisdiction in which the
research will be conducted [45 CFR 46.401(a)].
CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; an agency within the Public Health Service,
Department of Health and Human Services.
CFR: Code of Federal Regulations
CLASS I, II, III DEVICES: Classification by the Food and Drug Administration of medical
devices according to potential risks or hazards.
20
CLINICAL TRIAL: A controlled study involving human subjects, designed to evaluate
prospectively the safety and effectiveness of new drugs or devices or of behavioral interventions.
COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED: Having either a psychiatric disorder (e.g., psychosis, neurosis,
personality or behavior disorders, or dementia) or a developmental disorder (e.g., mental
retardation) that affects cognitive or emotional functions to the extent that capacity for judgment
and reasoning is significantly diminished. Others, including persons under the influence of or
dependent on drugs or alcohol, those suffering from degenerative diseases affecting the brain,
terminally ill patients, and persons with severely disabling physical handicaps, may also be
compromised in their ability to make decisions in their best interests.
COHORT: A group of subjects initially identified as having one or more characteristics in
common who are followed over time. In social science research, this term may refer to any group
of persons who are born at about the same time and share common historical or cultural
experiences.
COMPENSATION: Payment or medical care provided to subjects injured in research; does not
refer to payment (remuneration) for participation in research. (Compare: Remuneration.)
COMPETENCE: Technically, a legal term, used to denote capacity to act on one's own behalf; the
ability to understand information presented, to appreciate the consequences of acting (or not
acting) on that information, and to make a choice. (See also: Incompetence, Incapacity.)
CONFIDENTIALITY: Pertains to the treatment of information that an individual has disclosed
in a relationship of trust and with the expectation that it will not be divulged to others without
permission in ways that are inconsistent with the understanding of the original disclosure.
CONSENT: See: Informed Consent.
CONTRACT: An agreement; as used here, an agreement that a specific research activity will be
performed at the request, and under the direction, of the agency providing the funds. Research
performed under contract is more closely controlled by the agency than research performed under
a grant. (Compare: Grant.)
CONTROL (SUBJECTS) or CONTROLS: Subject(s) used for comparison who are not given a
treatment under study or who do not have a given condition, background, or risk factor that is the
object of study. Control conditions may be concurrent (occurring more or less simultaneously with
the condition under study) or historical (preceding the condition under study). When the present
condition of subjects is compared with their own condition on a prior regimen or treatment, the
study is considered historically controlled.
21
CONTRAINDICATED: Disadvantageous, perhaps dangerous; a treatment that should not be
used in certain individuals or conditions due to risks (e.g., a drug may be contraindicated for
pregnant women and persons with high blood pressure).
CORRELATION COEFFICIENT: A statistical index of the degree of relationship between two
variables. Values of correlation coefficients range from -1.00 through zero to +1.00. A correlation
coefficient of 0.00 indicates no relationship between the variables. Correlations approaching -1.00
or +1.00 indicate strong relationships between the variables. However, causal inferences about the
relationship between two variables can never be made on the basis of correlation coefficients, no
matter how strong a relationship is indicated.
CROSS-OVER DESIGN: A type of clinical trial in which each subject experiences, at different
times, both the experimental and control therapy. For example, half of the subjects might be
randomly assigned first to the control group and then to the experimental intervention, while the
other half would have the sequence reversed.
DATA AND SAFETY MONITORING BOARD: A committee of scientists, physicians,
statisticians, and others that collects and analyzes data during the course of a clinical trial to
monitor for adverse effects and other trends (such as an indication that one treatment is
significantly better than another, particularly when one arm of the trial involves a placebo control)
that would warrant modification or termination of the trial or notification of subjects about new
information that might affect their willingness to continue in the trial.
DEAD FETUS: An expelled or delivered fetus that exhibits no heartbeat, spontaneous respiratory
activity, spontaneous movement of voluntary muscles, or pulsation of the umbilical cord (if still
attached) [45 CFR 46.203(f)]. Generally, some organs, tissues, and cells (referred to collectively as
fetal tissue) remain alive for varying periods of time after the total organism is dead.
DEBRIEFING: Giving subjects previously undisclosed information about the research project
following completion of their participation in research. (Note that this usage, which occurs within
the behavioral sciences, departs from Standard English, in which debriefing is obtaining rather
than imparting information.)
DECLARATION OF HELSINKI: A code of ethics for clinical research approved by the World
Medical Association in 1964 and widely adopted by medical associations in various countries. It
was revised in 1975 and 1989.
DEPENDENT VARIABLES: The outcomes that are measured in an experiment. Dependent
variables are expected to change as a result of an experimental manipulation of the independent
variable(s).
22
DESCRIPTIVE STUDY: Any study that is not truly experimental (e.g., quasi-experimental studies,
correlational studies, record reviews, case histories, and observational studies).
DEVICE (MEDICAL): See: Medical Device.
DHEW: A federal agency: U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare; reorganized in
1980 as the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of
Education.
DHHS: A federal agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; formerly the
Department of Health, Education and Welfare (DHEW).
DIAGNOSTIC (PROCEDURE): Tests used to identify a disorder or disease in a living person.
DOUBLE-MASKED DESIGN: A study design in which neither the investigators nor the subjects
know the treatment group assignments of individual subjects. Sometimes referred to as "doubleblind."
DRUG: Any chemical compound that may be used on or administered to humans as an aid in the
diagnosis, treatment, cure, mitigation, or prevention of disease or other abnormal conditions.
EMANCIPATED MINOR: A legal status conferred upon persons who have not yet attained the
age of legal competency as defined by state law (for such purposes as consenting to medical care),
but who are entitled to treatment as if they had by virtue of assuming adult responsibilities such as
being self-supporting and not living at home, marriage, or procreation. (See also: Mature Minor.)
EMBRYO: Early stages of a developing organism, broadly used to refer to stages immediately
following fertilization of an egg through implantation and very early pregnancy (i.e., from
conception to the eighth week of pregnancy). (See also: Fetus.)
EPIDEMIOLOGY: A scientific discipline that studies the factors determining the causes,
frequency, and distribution of diseases in a community or given population.
EQUITABLE: Fair or just; used in the context of selection of subjects to indicate that the benefits
and burdens of research are fairly distributed [45 CFR 46.111(a)(3)].
ETHICS ADVISORY BOARD: An interdisciplinary group that advises the Secretary, HHS, on
general policy matters and on research proposals (or classes of proposals) that pose ethical
problems.
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ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH: Ethnography is the study of people and their culture.
Ethnographic research, also called fieldwork, involves observation of and interaction with the
persons or group being studied in the group's own environment, often for long periods of time.
(See also: Fieldwork.)
EXPANDED AVAILABILITY: Policy and procedure that permits individuals who have serious
or life-threatening diseases for which there are no alternative therapies to have access to
investigational drugs and devices that may be beneficial to them. Examples of expanded availability
mechanisms include Treatment INDs, Parallel Track, and open study protocols.
EXPEDITED REVIEW: Review of proposed research by the IRB chair or a designated voting
member or group of voting members rather than by the entire IRB. Federal rules permit expedited
review for certain kinds of research involving no more than minimal risk and for minor changes in
approved research [Federal Policy 45 CFR 46.110].
EXPERIMENTAL: Term often used to denote a therapy (drug, device, procedure) that is
unproven or not yet scientifically validated with respect to safety and efficacy. A procedure may be
considered "experimental" without necessarily being part of a formal study (research) to evaluate its
usefulness. (See also: Research.)
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY: A true experimental study is one in which subjects are randomly
assigned to groups that experience carefully controlled interventions manipulated by the
experimenter according to a strict logic allowing causal inference about the effects of the
interventions under investigation. (See also: Quasi-Experimental Study).
FALSE NEGATIVE: When a test wrongly shows an effect or condition to be absent (e.g., that a
woman is not pregnant when, in fact, she is).
FALSE POSITIVE: When a test wrongly shows an effect or condition to be present (e.g. that is
woman is pregnant when, in fact, she is not).
FDA: Food and Drug Administration; an agency of the federal government established by
Congress in 1912 and presently part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
FEDERAL POLICY (THE): The federal policy that provides regulations for the involvement of
human subjects in research. The Policy applies to all research involving human subjects conducted,
supported, or otherwise subject to regulation by any federal department or agency that takes
appropriate administrative action to make the Policy applicable to such research. Currently,
sixteen federal agencies have adopted the Federal Policy. (Also known as the "Common Rule.")
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FETAL MATERIAL: The placenta, amniotic fluid, fetal membranes, and umbilical cord.
FETUS: The product of conception from the time of implantation until delivery. If the delivered
or expelled fetus is viable, it is designated an infant [45 CFR 46.203(c)]. The term "fetus" generally
refers to later phases of development; the term "embryo" is usually used for earlier phases of
development. (See also: Embryo.)
FIELDWORK: Behavioral, social, or anthropological research involving the study of persons or
groups in their own environment and without manipulation for research purposes (distinguished
from laboratory or controlled settings). (See also: Ethnographic Research.)
510(K) DEVICE: A medical device that is considered substantially equivalent to a device that was
or is being legally marketed. A sponsor planning to market such a device must submit notification
to the FDA 90 days in advance of placing the device on the market. If the FDA concurs with the
sponsor, the device may then be marketed. 510(k) is the section of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic
Act that describes premarket notification; hence the designation "510(k) device."
FULL BOARD REVIEW: Review of proposed research at a convened meeting at which a
majority of the membership of the IRB are present, including at least one member whose primary
concerns are in nonscientific areas. For the research to be approved, it must receive the approval of
a majority of those members present at the meeting [45 CFR 46.108].
GENE THERAPY: The treatment of genetic disease accomplished by altering the genetic
structure of either somatic (nonreproductive) or germline (reproductive) cells.
GENERAL ASSURANCE: Obsolete term, previously used to denote an institutional assurance
covering multiple research projects. (See also: Assurance.)
GENERAL CONTROLS: Certain FDA statutory provisions designed to control the safety of
marketed drugs and devices. The general controls include provisions on adulteration,
misbranding, banned devices, good manufacturing practices, notification and record keeping, and
other sections of the Medical Device Amendments to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.
Code 360(c) (Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act 513)].
GENETIC SCREENING: Tests to identify persons who have an inherited predisposition to a
certain phenotype or who are at risk of producing offspring with inherited diseases or disorders.
GENOTYPE: The genetic constitution of an individual.
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GRANT: Financial support provided for research study designed and proposed by the principal
investigator(s). The granting agency exercises no direct control over the conduct of approved
research supported by a grant. (Compare: Contract.)
GUARDIAN: An individual who is authorized under applicable state or local law to give
permission on behalf of a child to general medical care [45 CFR 46.402(3)].
HELSINKI DECLARATION: See: Declaration of Helsinki.
HISTORICAL CONTROLS: Control subjects (followed at some time in the past or for whom
data are available through records) who are used for comparison with subjects being treated
concurrently. The study is considered historically controlled when the present condition of
subjects is compared with their own condition on a prior regimen or treatment.
HUMAN IN VITRO FERTILIZATION: Any fertilization involving human sperm and ova that
occurs outside the human body.
HUMAN SUBJECTS: Individuals whose physiologic or behavioral characteristics and responses
are the object of study in a research project. Under the federal regulations, human subjects are
defined as: living individual(s) about whom an investigator conducting research obtains: (1) data
through intervention or interaction with the individual; or (2) identifiable private information [45
CFR 46.102(f)].
IDE: See: Investigational Device Exemptions.
INCAPACITY: Refers to a person's mental status and means inability to understand information
presented, to appreciate the consequences of acting (or not acting) on that information, and to
make a choice. Often used as a synonym for incompetence. (See also: Incompetence.)
INCOMPETENCE: Technically, a legal term meaning inability to manage one's own affairs.
Often used as a synonym for incapacity. (See also: Incapacity.)
IND: See: Investigational New Drug.
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES The conditions of an experiment that are systematically
manipulated by the investigator.
INFORMED CONSENT: A person's voluntary agreement, based upon adequate knowledge and
understanding of relevant information, to participate in research or to undergo a diagnostic,
therapeutic, or preventive procedure. In giving informed consent, subjects may not waive or appear
26
to waive any of their legal rights, or release or appear to release the investigator, the sponsor, the
institution or agents thereof from liability for negligence [45 CFR 46.116; 21 CFR 50.20 and
50.25].
INSTITUTION: (1) Any public or private entity or agency (including federal, state, and local
agencies) [45 CFR 46.102(b)].
INSTITUTION: (2) A residential facility that provides food, shelter, and professional services
(including treatment, skilled nursing, intermediate or long-term care, and custodial or residential
care). Examples include general, mental, or chronic disease hospitals; inpatient community mental
health centers; halfway houses and nursing homes; alcohol and drug addiction treatment centers;
homes for the aged or dependent, residential schools for the mentally or physically handicapped;
and homes for dependent and neglected children.
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD: A specially constituted review body established or
designated by an entity to protect the welfare of human subjects recruited to participate in
biomedical or behavioral research [45 CFR 46.102(g); 45 CFR 46.108; 45 CFR 46.109].
INSTITUTIONALIZED: Confined, either voluntarily or involuntarily (e.g., a hospital, prison, or
nursing home).
INSTITUTIONALIZED COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED: Persons who are confined, either
voluntarily or involuntarily, in a facility for the care of the mentally or otherwise disabled (e.g., a
psychiatric hospital, home, or school for the retarded).
INVESTIGATIONAL DEVICE EXEMPTIONS (IDE): Exemptions from certain regulations
found in the Medical Device Amendments that allow shipment of unapproved devices for use in
clinical investigations [21 CFR 812.20].
INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG OR DEVICE: A drug or device permitted by FDA to be
tested in humans but not yet determined to be safe and effective for a particular use in the general
population and not yet licensed for marketing.
INVESTIGATOR: In clinical trials, an individual who actually conducts an investigation [21 CFR
312.3]. Any interventions (e.g., drugs) involved in the study are administered to subjects under the
immediate direction of the investigator. (See also: Principal Investigator.)
IN VITRO: Literally, "in glass" or "test tube;" used to refer to processes that are carried out outside
the living body, usually in the laboratory, as distinguished from in vivo.
27
IN VIVO: Literally, "in the living body;" processes, such as the absorption of a drug by the human
body, carried out in the living body rather than in a laboratory (in vitro).
IRB: See: Institutional Review Board.
JUSTICE: An ethical principle discussed in the Belmont Report requiring fairness in distribution
of burdens and benefits; often expressed in terms of treating persons of similar circumstances or
characteristics similarly.
LACTATION: The period of time during which a woman is providing her breast milk to an
infant or child.
LEGALLY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE: A person authorized either by statute or by
court appointment to make decisions on behalf of another person. In human subjects research, an
individual or judicial or other body authorized under applicable law to consent on behalf of a
prospective subject to the subject's participation in the procedure(s) involved in the research [45
CFR 46.102(c)].
LOD SCORE: An expression of the probability that a gene and a marker are linked.
LONGITUDINAL STUDY: A study designed to follow subjects forward through time.
MASKED STUDY DESIGNS: Study designs comparing two or more interventions in which
either the investigators, the subjects, or some combination thereof do not know the treatment
group assignments of individual subjects. Sometimes called "blind" study designs. (See also: DoubleMasked Design; Single-Masked Design.)
MATURE MINOR: Someone who has not reached adulthood (as defined by state law) but who
may be treated as an adult for certain purposes (e.g., consenting to medical care). Note that a
mature minor is not necessarily an emancipated minor. (See also: Emancipated Minor.)
MEDICAL DEVICE: A diagnostic or therapeutic article that does not achieve any of its principal
intended purpose through chemical action within or on the body. Such devices include diagnostic
test kits, crutches, electrodes, pacemakers, arterial grafts, intraocular lenses, and orthopedic pins or
other orthopedic equipment.
MEDICAL DEVICE AMENDMENTS (MDA): Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act passed in 1976 to regulate the distribution of medical devices and diagnostic
products.
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MENTALLY DISABLED: See: Cognitively Impaired.
METABOLISM (OF A DRUG): The manner in which a drug is acted upon (taken up, converted
to other substances, and excreted) by various organs of the body.
MINIMAL RISK: A risk is minimal where the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort
anticipated in the proposed research are not greater, in and of themselves, than those ordinarily
encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological
examinations or tests [45 CFR 46.102(i)]. For example, the risk of drawing a small amount of
blood from a healthy individual for research purposes is no greater than the risk of doing so as part
of routine physical examination.
The definition of minimal risk for research involving prisoners differs somewhat from that given
for noninstitutionalized adults. [See 45 CFR 46.303(d) and Guidebook Chapter 6, Section E,
"Prisoners."]
MONITORING: The collection and analysis of data as the project progresses to assure the
appropriateness of the research, its design and subject protections.
NATIONAL COMMISSION: National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of
Biomedical and Behavioral Research. An interdisciplinary advisory body, established by
Congressional legislation in 1974, which was in existence until 1978, and which issued a series of
reports and recommendations on ethical issues in research and medicine, many of which are now
embodied in federal regulations.
NDA: See: New Drug Application.
NEW DRUG APPLICATION: Request for FDA approval to market a new drug.
NIAAA: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; an institute in NIH.
NIDA: National Institute on Drug Abuse; an institute in NIH.
NIH: National Institutes of Health: a federal agency within the Public Health Service, DHHS,
comprising 21 institutes and centers. It is responsible for carrying out and supporting biomedical
and behavioral research.
NIMH: National Institute of Mental Health; an institute in NIH.
29
NONAFFILIATED MEMBER: Member of an Institutional Review Board who has no ties to the
parent institution, its staff, or faculty. This individual is usually from the local community (e.g.,
minister, business person, attorney, teacher, homemaker).
NONSIGNIFICANT RISK DEVICE: An investigational medical device that does not present
significant risk to the patient. (See also: Significant Risk Device.)
NONTHERAPEUTIC RESEARCH: Research that has no likelihood or intent of producing a
diagnostic, preventive, or therapeutic benefit to the current subjects, although it may benefit
subjects with a similar condition in the future.
NONVIABLE FETUS: An expelled or delivered fetus which, although it is living, cannot possibly
survive to the point of sustaining life independently, even with the support of available medical
therapy [45 CFR 46.203 (d) and (e)]. Although it may be presumed that an expelled or delivered
fetus is nonviable at a gestational age less than 20 weeks and weight less than 500 grams [Federal
Register 40 (August 8, 1975): 33552], a specific determination as to viability must be made by a
physician in each instance. (See also: Viable Infant.)
NORMAL VOLUNTEERS: Volunteer subjects used to study normal physiology and behavior or
who do not have the condition under study in a particular protocol, used as comparisons with
subjects who do have the condition. "Normal" may not mean normal in all respects. For example,
patients with broken legs (if not on medication that will affect the results) may serve as normal
volunteers in studies of metabolism, cognitive development, and the like. Similarly, patients with
heart disease but without diabetes may be the "normals" in a study of diabetes complicated by heart
disease.
NULL HYPOTHESIS: The proposition, to be tested statistically, that the experimental
intervention has "no effect," meaning that the treatment and control groups will not differ as a
result of the intervention. Investigators usually hope that the data will demonstrate some effect
from the intervention, thereby allowing the investigator to reject the null hypothesis.
NUREMBERG CODE: A code of research ethics developed during the trials of Nazi war
criminals following World War II and widely adopted as a standard during the 1950s and 1960s
for protecting human subjects.
OFFICE FOR PROTECTION FROM RESEARCH RISKS (OPRR): The office within the
National Institutes of Health, an agency of the Public Health Service, Department of Health and
Human Services, responsible for implementing DHHS regulations (45 CFR Part 46) governing
research involving human subjects.
30
OPEN DESIGN: An experimental design in which both the investigator(s) and the subjects know
the treatment group(s) to which subjects are assigned.
OPRR: See: Office for Protection from Research Risks.
PATERNALISM: Making decisions for others against or apart from their wishes with the intent
of doing them good.
PERMISSION: The agreement of parent(s) or guardian to the participation of their child or ward
in research [45 CFR 46.402(c)].
PHARMACOLOGY: The scientific discipline that studies the action of drugs on living systems
(animals or human beings).
PHASE 1, 2, 3, 4 DRUG TRIALS: Different stages of testing drugs in humans, from first
application in humans (Phase 1) through limited and broad clinical tests (Phase 3), to post
marketing studies (Phase 4).
PHASE 1 DRUG TRIAL: Phase 1 trials include the initial introduction of an investigational new
drug into humans. These studies are typically conducted with healthy volunteers; sometimes,
where the drug is intended for use in patients with a particular disease, however, such patients may
participate as subjects. Phase 1 trials are designed to determine the metabolic and pharmacological
actions of the drug in humans, the side effects associated with increasing doses (to establish a safe
dose range), and, if possible, to gain early evidence of effectiveness; they are typically closely
monitored. The ultimate goal of Phase 1 trials is to obtain sufficient information about the drug's
pharmacokinetics and pharmacological effects to permit the design of well-controlled, sufficiently
valid Phase 2 studies. Other examples of Phase 1 studies include studies of drug metabolism,
structure-activity relationships, and mechanisms of actions in humans, as well as studies in which
investigational drugs are used as research tools to explore biological phenomena or disease
processes. The total number of subjects involved in Phase 1 investigations is generally in the range
of 20-80.
PHASE 2 DRUG TRIAL: Phase 2 trials include controlled clinical studies conducted to evaluate
the drug's effectiveness for a particular indication in patients with the disease or condition under
study, and to determine the common short-term side effects and risks associated with the drug.
These studies are typically well-controlled, closely monitored, and conducted with a relatively small
number of patients, usually involving no more than several hundred subjects.
PHASE 3 DRUG TRIAL: Phase 3 trials involve the administration of a new drug to a larger
number of patients in different clinical settings to determine its safety, efficacy, and appropriate
31
dosage. They are performed after preliminary evidence of effectiveness has been obtained, and are
intended to gather necessary additional information about effectiveness and safety for evaluating
the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug, and to provide an adequate basis for physician
labeling. In Phase 3 studies, the drug is used the way it would be administered when marketed.
When these studies are completed and the sponsor believes that the drug is safe and effective
under specific conditions, the sponsor applies to the FDA for approval to market the drug. Phase 3
trials usually involve several hundred to several thousand patient-subjects.
PHASE 4 DRUG TRIAL: Concurrent with marketing approval, FDA may seek agreement from
the sponsor to conduct certain post marketing (Phase 4) studies to delineate additional
information about the drug's risks, benefits, and optimal use. These studies could include, but
would not be limited to, studying different doses or schedules of administration than were used in
Phase 2 studies, use of the drug in other patient populations or other stages of the disease, or use
of the drug over a longer period of time [21 CFR §312.85].
PHENOTYPE: The physical manifestation of a gene function.
PHS: Public Health Service. Part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it
includes FDA, NIH, CDC, SAMHSA, and HRSA.
PLACEBO: A chemically inert substance given in the guise of medicine for its psychologically
suggestive effect; used in controlled clinical trials to determine whether improvement and side
effects may reflect imagination or anticipation rather than actual power of a drug.
POSTAMENDMENTS DEVICES: Medical devices marketed after enactment of the 1976
Medical Device Amendments.
PREAMENDMENTS DEVICES: Medical devices marketed before enactment of the 1976
Medical Device Amendments.
PRECLINICAL INVESTIGATIONS: Laboratory and animal studies designed to test the
mechanisms, safety, and efficacy of an intervention prior to its applications to humans.
PREDICATE DEVICES: Currently legally marketed devices to which new devices may be found
substantially equivalent under the 510(k) process.
PREGNANCY: The period of time from confirmation of implantation of a fertilized egg within
the uterus until the fetus has entirely left the uterus (i.e., has been delivered). Implantation is
confirmed through a presumptive sign of pregnancy such as missed menses or a positive pregnancy
test [45 CFR 46.203(b)]. This "confirmation" may be in error, but, for research purposes,
32
investigators would presume that a living fetus was present until evidence to the contrary was clear.
Although fertilization occurs a week or more before implantation, the current inability to detect
the fertilization event or the presence of a newly fertilized egg makes a definition of pregnancy
based on implantation necessary.
PREMARKET APPROVAL: Process of scientific and regulatory review by the FDA to ensure the
safety and effectiveness of Class III devices.
PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION: President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in
Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research. An interdisciplinary advisory group,
established by congressional legislation in 1978, which was in existence until 1983, and which
issued reports on ethical problems in health care and in research involving human subjects.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: The scientist or scholar with primary responsibility for the
design and conduct of a research project. (See also: Investigator)
PRISONER: An individual involuntarily confined in a penal institution, including persons: (1)
sentenced under a criminal or civil statue; (2) detained pending arraignment, trial, or sentencing;
and (3) detained in other facilities (e.g., for drug detoxification or treatment of alcoholism) under
statutes or commitment procedures providing such alternatives to criminal prosecution or
incarceration in a penal institution [45 CFR 46.303(c)].
PRIVACY: Control over the extent, timing, and circumstances of sharing oneself (physically,
behaviorally, or intellectually) with others.
PROBAND: The person whose case serves as the stimulus for the study of other members of the
family to identify the possible genetic factors involved in a given disease, condition, or
characteristic.
PROPHYLACTIC: Preventive or protective; a drug, vaccine, regimen, or device designed to
prevent, or provide protection against, a given disease or disorder.
PROSPECTIVE STUDIES: Studies designed to observe outcomes or events that occur
subsequent to the identification of the group of subjects to be studied. Prospective studies need
not involve manipulation or intervention but may be purely observational or involve only the
collection of data.
PROTOCOL: The formal design or plan of an experiment or research activity; specifically, the
plan submitted to an IRB for review and to an agency for research support. The protocol includes
a description of the research design or methodology to be employed, the eligibility requirements
33
for prospective subjects and controls, the treatment regimen(s), and the proposed methods of
analysis that will be performed on the collected data.
PURITY: The relative absence of extraneous matter in a drug or vaccine that may or may not be
harmful to the recipient or deleterious to the product.
QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY: A study that is similar to a true experimental study except
that it lacks random assignments of subjects to treatment groups. (See also: Experimental Study.)
RADIOACTIVE DRUG: Any substance defined as a drug in §201(b)(1) of the Federal Food,
Drug and Cosmetic Act that exhibits spontaneous disintegration of unstable nuclei with the
emission of nuclear particles or photons [21 CFR 310.3(n)]. Included are any nonradioactive
reagent kit or nuclide generator that is intended to be used in the preparation of a radioactive drug
and "radioactive biological products," as defined in 21 CFR 600.3(ee). Drugs such as carboncontaining compounds or potassium-containing salts containing trace quantities of naturally
occurring radionuclides are not considered radioactive drugs.
RADIOACTIVE DRUG RESEARCH COMMITTEE (RDRC): An institutional committee
responsible for the use of radioactive drugs in human subjects for research purposes. Research
involving human subjects that proposes to use radioactive drugs must meet various FDA
requirements, including limitations on the pharmacological dose and the radiation dose.
Furthermore, the exposure to radiation must be justified by the quality of the study and the
importance of the information it seeks to obtain. The committee is also responsible for continuing
review of the drug use to ensure that the research continues to comply with FDA requirements,
including reporting obligations. The committee must include experts in nuclear medicine and the
use of radioactive drugs, as well as other medical and scientific members [21 CFR 36.1].
RADIOPAQUE CONTRAST AGENTS: Materials that stop or attenuate radiation that is passed
through the body, creating an outline on film of the organ(s) being examined. Contrast agents,
sometimes called "dyes," do not contain radioisotopes. When such agents are used, exposure to
radiation results only from the X-ray equipment used in the examination. The chemical structure
of radiopaque contrast agents can produce a variety of adverse reactions, some of which may be
severe – and possibly even life-threatening – in certain individuals.
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS: Drugs (compounds or materials) that may be labeled or tagged
with a radioisotope. These materials are largely physiological or subpharmacological in action, and,
in many cases, function much like materials found in the body. The principal risk associated with
these materials is the consequent radiation exposure to the body or to specific organ systems when
they are injected into the body.
34
RANDOM, RANDOM ASSIGNMENT, RANDOMIZATION, RANDOMIZED: Assignment of
subjects to different treatments, interventions, or conditions according to chance rather than
systematically (e.g., as dictated by the standard or usual response to their condition, history, or
prognosis, or according to demographic characteristics). Random assignment of subjects to
conditions is an essential element of experimental research because it makes more likely the
probability that differences observed between subject groups are the result of the experimental
intervention.
RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY: "The ability to chop up DNA, the stuff of which genes
are made, and move the pieces, [which] permits the direct examination of the human genome,"
and the identification of the genetic components of a wide variety of disorders [Holtzman (1989),
p. 1]. Recombinant DNA technology is also used to develop diagnostic screens and tests, as well as
drugs and biologics for treating diseases with genetic components (see Guidebook Chapter 5, Section
H, "Human Genetic Research."
REM: Acronym for Roentgen Equivalent in Man; the unit of measurement for a dose of an
ionizing radiation that produces the same biological effect as a unit of absorbed does (1 rad) of
ordinary X-rays. One millirem is equal to 1/1000 of a rem.
REMISSION: A period in which the signs and symptoms of a disease are diminished or in
abeyance. The term "remission" is used when one cannot say with confidence that the disease has
been cured.
REMUNERATION: Payment for participation in research. (NOTE: It is wise to confine use of
the term "compensation" to payment or provision of care for research-related injuries.) (Compare:
Compensation.)
RESEARCH: A systematic investigation (i.e., the gathering and analysis of information) designed
to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge [45 CFR 46.102(d)].
RESPECT FOR PERSONS: An ethical principle discussed in the Belmont Report requiring that
individual autonomy be respected and that persons with diminished autonomy be protected.
RETROSPECTIVE STUDIES: Research conducted by reviewing records from the past (e.g., birth
and death certificates, medical records, school records, or employment records) or by obtaining
information about past events elicited through interviews or surveys. Case control studies are an
example of this type of research.
35
REVIEW (OF RESEARCH): The concurrent oversight of research on a periodic basis by an IRB.
In addition to the at least annual reviews mandated by the federal regulations, reviews may, if
deemed appropriate, also be conducted on a continuous or periodic basis [45 CFR 46.108(e)].
RISK: The probability of harm or injury (physical, psychological, social, or economic) occurring as
a result of participation in a research study. Both the probability and magnitude of possible harm
may vary from minimal to significant. Federal regulations define only "minimal risk." (See also:
Minimal Risk.)
SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; includes the Center for
Substance Abuse Prevention, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Center on
Mental Health Services. Previously the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration
(ADAMHA). (See also: ADAMHA.)
SCIENTIFIC REVIEW GROUP: A group of highly regarded experts in a given field, convened
by NIH to advise NIH on the scientific merit of applications for research grants and contracts.
Scientific review groups are also required to review the ethical aspects of proposed involvement of
human subjects. Various kinds of scientific review groups exist, and are known by different names
in different institutes of the NIH (e.g., Study Sections, Initial Review Groups, Contract Review
Committees, or Technical Evaluation Committees).
SECRETARY: A U.S. Cabinet Officer. In the context of DHHS-conducted or -supported
research, usually refers to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
SIGNIFICANT RISK DEVICE: An investigational medical device that presents a potential for
serious risk to the health, safety, or welfare of the subject.
SINGLE-MASKED DESIGN: Typically, a study design in which the investigator, but not the
subject, knows the identity of the treatment assignment. Occasionally the subject, but not the
investigator, knows the assignment. Sometimes called "single-blind design."
SITE VISIT: A visit by agency officials, representatives, or consultants to the location of a research
activity to assess the adequacy of IRB protection of human subjects or the capability of personnel
to conduct the research.
SOCIAL EXPERIMENTATION: Systematic manipulation of, or experimentation in, social or
economic systems; used in planning public policy.
SPONSOR (OF A DRUG TRIAL): A person or entity that initiates a clinical investigation of a
drug, and usually the drug manufacturer or research institution that developed the drug. The
36
sponsor does not actually conduct the investigation, but rather distributes the new drug to
investigators and physicians for clinical trials. The drug is administered to subjects under the
immediate direction of an investigator who is not also a sponsor. A clinical investigator may,
however, serve as a sponsor-investigator. The sponsor assumes responsibility for investigating the
new drug, including responsibility for compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The
sponsor, for example, is responsible for obtaining FDA approval to conduct a trial and for
reporting the results of the trial to the FDA.
SPONSOR--INVESTIGATOR: An individual who both initiates and actually conducts, alone or
with others, a clinical investigation. Corporations, agencies, or other institutions do not qualify as
sponsor-investigators.
STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A determination of the probability of obtaining the particular
distribution of the data on the assumption that the null hypothesis is true. Or, more simply put,
the probability of coming to a false positive conclusion. [See McLarty (1987), p. 2.] If the probability
is less than or equal to a predetermined value (e.g., 0.05 or 0.01), then the null hypothesis is
rejected at that significance level (0.05 or 0.01).
STERILITY: (1) The absence of viable contaminating microorganisms; aseptic state.
STERILITY: (2) The inability to procreate; the inability to conceive or induce conception.
STUDY SECTION: See: Scientific Review Group.
SUBJECTS (HUMAN): See: Human Subjects.
SURVEYS: Studies designed to obtain information from a large number of respondents through
written questionnaires, telephone interviews, door-to-door canvassing, or similar procedures.
THERAPEUTIC INTENT: The research physician's intent to provide some benefit to improving
a subject's condition (e.g., prolongation of life, shrinkage of tumor, or improved quality of life,
even though cure or dramatic improvement cannot necessarily be affected.) This term is sometimes
associated with Phase 1 drug studies in which potentially toxic drugs are given to an individual
with the hope of inducing some improvement in the patient's condition as well as assessing the
safety and pharmacology of a drug.
THERAPY: Treatment intended and expected to alleviate a disease or disorder.
37
UNIFORM ANATOMICAL GIFT ACT: Legislation adopted by all 50 States and the District of
Columbia that indicates procedures for donation of all or part of a decedent's body for such
activities as medical education, scientific research, and organ transplantation.
VACCINE: A biologic product generally made from an infectious agent or its components – a
virus, bacterium, or other microorganism – that is killed (inactive) or live-attenuated (active,
although weakened). Vaccines may also be biochemically synthesized or made through
recombinant DNA techniques.
VARIABLE (NOUN): An element or factor that the research is designed to study, either as an
experimental intervention or a possible outcome (or factor affecting the outcome) of that
intervention.
VIABLE INFANT: When referring to a delivered or expelled fetus, the term "viable infant" means
likely to survive to the point of sustaining life independently, given the benefit of available medical
therapy [45 CFR 46.203(d)]. This judgment is made by a physician. In accordance with DHHS
regulations, the Secretary, HHS, may publish guidelines to assist in the determination of viability.
Such guidelines were published in 1975, and specify an estimated gestational age of 20 weeks or
more and a body weight of 500 grams or more as indices of fetal viability [Federal Register 40
(August 8, 1975): 33552]. These indices depend on the state of present technology and may be
revised periodically. (See also: Nonviable Fetus.)
VOLUNTARY: Free of coercion, duress, or undue inducement. Used in the research context to
refer to a subject's decision to participate (or to continue to participate) in a research activity.
38
(For IRB use only) Becker IRB Protocol#: ____________
Appendix A
Becker College IRB Application
Becker College Institutional Review Board (IRB) Initial Application Form
Instructions: Complete this form to request an initial IRB review of research involving human participants. The
application for study renewal and the request for study modification may be found on the IRB webpage at:
http://www.becker.edu/irb. The checklist below is for general guidance to help researchers submit complete application
materials and facilitate the review process. Incomplete or illegible applications will extend the IRB review process. If you
are collecting data at a hospital, please seek hospital IRB approval prior to Becker College IRB approval. Please submit an
electronic application and all research materials (consent form, surveys, interview guides, etc.) [email protected].
A Complete Application Packet Should Include:
A cover letter or memo that inventories all materials submitted
An electronic copy of the IRB initial application form, research summary, and research instruments.
Types of research instruments that should be attached include:
 Recruitment materials: emails, letters, recruitment scripts, flyers, posters, brochures, etc.
 Data collection materials: questionnaires, surveys, data collection forms, focus group scripts, interview scripts, etc.
Signature page with faculty advisor and student signatures
(Approval will be withheld without signatures.)
Copies of IRB training certificates for all key research personnel who will interact with subjects or
collect data
Consent forms(s)—You must use the Becker College IRB Informed Consent Template found on the
Becker College IRB website http://www.becker.edu/irb when creating your informed consent form(s).
If minors (under 18) will be research participants, you must create a Child Assent Form and a
Debriefing Form using the templates found on the Becker College IRB website
http://www.becker.edu/irb.
Student Researchers:
Faculty research advisor was consulted in the study design and has reviewed and signed the application.
Research in Hospitals or HIPAA-Covered Entities
Submit copies of the IRB approval letter and IRB approved consent form(s) from the participating institution(s).
Research in Public Schools:
Review Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment requirements at: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ppra/index.html
Submit copies of the permission letter to perform research from each school principal via fax or email.
Submit copies of IRB approval if the school has an IRB.
Research at sites other than Becker College:
Submit copies of the site permission letter to perform research from administrator via fax or email.
Submit copies of IRB approval if the site has an IRB.
Federally funded research: Wait until you have been funded before submitting an IRB Application.
Submit documentation of funding status with this protocol application.
Submit a complete copy of the federal grant/contract proposal including face page.
39
Becker IRB Initial Application
Revised: 01/05/16
Submit materials in a single PDF by E-mail: [email protected]
(For IRB use only) Becker IRB Protocol#: ____________
Becker College Institutional Review Board
Office of Academic Affairs
61 Sever Street
Worcester, MA 01609
508-373-9500
email: [email protected]
IRB Initial Application Form
For Initial IRB Review Only
I. Study Title:
Today’s Date:
(If funded, the study title must match the sponsored title.)
II. Principal Investigator Information
B. Are You? (Please check)
A. Name of Principal
Investigator:
Faculty
Staff
C. Mailing Address:
Undergraduate Student
Graduate Student
D. Department:
Postdoctoral fellow
E. Email address:
F. Primary Phone Number:
H. Faculty Advisor’s Name:
Other:
G. Alternate Phone:
I. Faculty Advisor’s
Phone:
J. Faculty Advisor’s E-mail:
III. Funding
A.
None (Go on to Section IV)
Do you plan to apply for funding in the future?
Yes
No If yes, please explain:
B.
University Funded: List source:
C.
External, non-federal*: List source and grant number:
D.
Federal*: List agency, department, and sponsor’s award number:
*Wait until you have been notified that your project will be funded before seeking IRB approval unless otherwise instructed by the funding source.
If federal funding is involved, submit documentation of funding status with a complete copy of the funding proposal with this form.
E. Is Becker College the primary awardee for the grant?
Yes
No If no, please list primary awardee:
F. Are there subcontracts?
Yes
No If yes please list sub-contractors:
IV. General Study Information
A. Anticipated number of participants
Females:____ Males:_____
C. Estimated Project Duration
*Start Date:
End Date:
B. Participant Ages (please check)
0-7 (requires written parental informed consent and oral child assent)
7-17 (requires written parental informed consent and child written assent)
18-65 (requires written informed consent)
65+ (requires written informed consent)
D. Why is this project being conducted?
Faculty/Staff Research
Undergraduate Coursework
Master’s Thesis
Doctoral Dissertation
Other:
*Project cannot start without IRB approval.
E. Will this study involve long-term follow-up with participants?
Yes
No If yes, please describe:
F. Special Study Populations (Check if applicable.)
Minors (under 18 years)
Pregnant women/fetuses or products of labor & delivery
Prisoners
Physically or mentally challenged
Diminished capacity for consent
Other:
40
Becker IRB Initial Application
Revised: 01/05/16
Submit materials in a single PDF by E-mail: [email protected]
(For IRB use only) Becker IRB Protocol#: ____________
V. Research Risk
Research must present no more than minimal risk to human participants in order to qualify for expedited review. Minimal risk means
that the “probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater in and of themselves than those
ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests.” (45 CFR
46.102)
A. Does the research propose greater than minimal risk to participants?
*If yes, skip to part C of this section.
Yes*
No
B. Does the research include prisoners?
Yes*
No
*If research includes prisoners, the application must be reviewed by the full IRB.
C. Check all procedures that apply to the research:
(1) Clinical studies of drugs and medical devices.
(2) Collection of blood samples by finger stick, heel stick, ear stick, or venipuncture.
(3) Prospective collection of biological specimens for research purposes by noninvasive means. Examples: hair and nail clippings; saliva;
deciduous teeth at time of exfoliation or extracted during routine care; excreta and external secretions (including sweat); un-cannulated
mucosal and skin cells collected by buccal scraping or swab, skin swab, or mouth washings; sputum collected after saline mist nebulization.
(4) Collection of data through noninvasive procedures routinely employed in clinical practice, excluding procedures involving x-rays or
microwaves. Examples: physical sensors that are applied either to the surface of the body or at a distance and do not involve input of
significant amounts of energy into the participant or an invasion of the participant’s privacy; weighing or testing sensory acuity; magnetic
resonance imaging; electrocardiography, electroencephalography, thermography, detection of naturally occurring radioactivity,
electroretinography, ultrasound, diagnostic infrared imaging, doppler blood flow, and echocardiography; moderate exercise, muscular
strength testing, body composition assessment, and flexibility testing where appropriate given the age, weight, and health of the individual.
(5) Research involving materials (data, documents, records, or specimens) that have been collected, or will be collected, solely for nonresearch purposes (such as medical treatment or diagnosis).
(6) Collection of data from voice, video, digital, or image recordings made for research purposes.
(7) Research on individual or group characteristics or behavior (including, but not limited to, research on perception, cognition,
motivation, identity, language, communication, cultural beliefs or practices, and social behavior) or research employing survey, interview,
oral history, focus group, program evaluation, human factors evaluation, or quality assurance methodologies.
(8) Continuing review of research previously approved by the convened IRB as follows: (a) where (i) the research is permanently closed to
the enrollment of new participants, (ii) all participants have completed all research-related interventions, and (iii) the research remains
active only for long-term follow-up of participants; or (b) where no participants have been enrolled and no additional risks have been
identified; or (c) where the remaining research activities are limited to data analysis.
None of the above categories apply.
For a comprehensive list of expedited categories see http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/policy/expedited98.html
D. Does this study involve any of the following? (Check all that apply.)
Deception
Punishment
Use of drugs
Covert observation
Induction of mental and/or physical stress
Procedures which may risk physical/mental harm to the participant
Materials/issues commonly regarded as socially unacceptable
Information relating to sexual attitudes, sexual orientation, or practices
Information relating to the use of alcohol, drugs, or other addictive products
Procedures that might be regarded as an invasion of privacy
Information pertaining to illegal conduct
Genetic information that may be linked to a participant’s health status, such as genetic markers for cancer, heart disease, etc.
Information normally recorded in a patient's medical record, which if disclosed could reasonably lead to social stigmatization or discrimination
Information pertaining to an individual's psychological wellbeing or mental health
Information that if released could reasonably damage an individual's financial standing, employability, or reputation within the community
Please provide details on all procedures checked above: How are they integral to the study?
41
Becker IRB Initial Application
Revised: 01/05/16
Submit materials in a single PDF by E-mail: [email protected]
(For IRB use only) Becker IRB Protocol#: ____________
VI. Research Summary:
Please attach a 4-5 page research summary using the topic headers A-I below. Be sure to dedicate 1-2 pages to the review of
literature. Please use simple language and avoid technical jargon. Be sure to address each item.
Note: Grant, thesis, dissertation or course work proposals may not be submitted in lieu of the Research Summary because traditional proposals do not
include specific information on risks, benefits and detailed informed consent procedures.
A. Introduction and Background:
1. State the problem and hypothesis.
2. Provide the scientific or scholarly literature for this study and background on the topic.
B. Specific Aims/Study Objectives:
1. List the purpose(s) of the study (What you are hoping to learn or discover as a result of the study?).
C. Materials, Methods, and Analysis (quantitative and qualitative):
1. Describe data collection methods (procedures)—Be specific.
2. Describe the specific materials or tools that will be used to collect the data—Be specific.
3. Describe timeline of the procedures and how long each procedure will last.
4. Describe how you will analyze your data; describe the analysis type and procedures including statistics and scientific or scholarly
justification for the use of these analyses—be specific.
D. Research Population & Recruitment Methods:
Describe:
1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria (What participant traits are needed to be included? What traits exclude participants?)
2. What is the scientific or scholarly justification for the number, gender, age, or race of the population you intend to recruit?
3. How did you choose the source of participants or data? (Census records, Becker students, Mass General Hospital records, etc.)
4. Recruitment procedure (if applicable) including who will recruit participants
5. Tools that will be used to recruit (payment, advertisements and flyers—Attach copies to this application.)
(Note: participant payment beyond $600 must be reported to the IRS, and this requirement must be added to the consent form.)
E. Informed Consent Procedure:
Describe:
1. Who will perform the informed consent procedure?
2. How will that person be trained? (previous related coursework, previous experience, one-on-one training with PI or faculty, etc.)
3. How will the prospective participant’s competence or understanding of the procedures be assessed? Will participants be asked questions
about the procedures or encouraged to ask questions?
F. Confidentiality:
Describe the provisions for participant and data confidentiality:
1. Where will the data be stored, and who will have access to the data and the area?
2. How and in what format (hard or electronic copy, identifiable or de-identified) will the data be stored?
3. Will the participants’ identities be coded? Will the codes to identify participants be stored with the data? (Note: If you are working with
a hospital or clinic, please see information on HIPAA and research at http://privacyruleandresearch.nih.gov/ )
G. Potential Research Risks or Discomforts to Participants:
1. Indicate the type of risk that may result from participation. Consider psychological or emotional risks, social stigma, change in status or
employment, physical risks or harms, information risks including breach of confidentiality and any effect loss of confidentiality may have
on status, employment, or insurability. If the protocol involves treatment, what are the risks compared to other treatments in terms of
“standard of care”?
2. Consider the likelihood and magnitude of the risks or discomforts occurring? Are they unlikely or likely to occur, and what effect would
the discomforts or risks have on the individual should they occur?
3. How will you minimize risks? Some examples include informed consent, adequate staff training and experience, debriefing, and
monitoring adverse effects on participants.
H. Potential Research Benefits to Participants:
1. Indicate the type of benefit that may result from participation. Consider psychological or emotional benefits, learning benefits, physical
benefits and discuss if participant will benefit directly or if the benefit is largely to gather generalizable knowledge or provide scientific or
social information on a topic that may benefit society. DO NOT OVERSTATE the benefit.
2. Consider the likelihood of the benefits. Will all or some participants benefit?
(Note: Monetary compensation is not a benefit of participation; it is a recruitment tool.)
I. Investigator Experience. Please attach a current copy of your C.V.
42
Becker IRB Initial Application
Revised: 01/05/16
Submit materials in a single PDF by E-mail: [email protected]
(For IRB use only) Becker IRB Protocol#: ____________
VII. Informed Consent
A. The informed consent document should include all required elements of consent (See the Becker IRB informed
consent template at http://www.becker.edu/irb). Confirm that each element is included in your consent form:
A statement that the study involves research
A statement that they are being asked to participate in research and how they were selected to participate
The purpose of the research in lay terms (in language understandable to the participants)
The expected duration of the participants’ participation (e.g., “You will be asked to complete a survey every month for 1 year.”)
The total time commitment of participation in the procedures (e.g., “The survey will take 20 minutes to complete.”)
A brief but complete description of all procedures to be followed (Invasive biological, clinical, or behavioral interventions require
specific descriptions of the procedure. If research includes treatment, describe which procedures are experimental and alternatives to
those procedures.)
The benefits to the participant or others that are reasonably expected from the research
The risks or discomforts that are reasonably expected from the research and a statement that “There may be unknown risks.”
A statement describing any payments for being in the study or that there is no payment for being in the study
A statement indicating that there is no cost to the participant for being in the study
A statement that participation is entirely voluntary and may be discontinued at any time
A statement that withdrawal from participation will not result in denial of entitled benefits or harm the participant’s relationship with
Becker
A statement of confidentiality describing how the participants’ personal information will be kept private
A statement that provides the participants with a contact at the institution who may be reached if injury occurs or confidentiality is
breached
The consent form must be signed and dated, or oral consent must be witnessed and signed and dated by the witness.
Note: Individuals with added protections require both permission of a legal representative and assent of the individual.
B. The comprehension level of the consent document must be verified to ensure it is consistent with the comprehension
level of the participants. Please use the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score to verify the comprehension level and insert it
below. Instructions for assessing the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score using MSWord are on the first page of the
informed consent and child assent templates, or you can paste your text into www.readability-score.com . (After
pasting the text in the box, place the curser at the end of the text and hit “Enter” or you will not get a reading from the
website.)
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Score:
43
Becker IRB Initial Application
Revised: 01/05/16
Submit materials in a single PDF by E-mail: [email protected]
(For IRB use only) Becker IRB Protocol#: ____________
VIII. Research Staff (e.g., PI, Co-PI, Research Assistant, etc.)
Please attach a list and submit educational certificates for all personnel who will interact or collect data. The required NIH training
module can be found at the following link: https://phrp.nihtraining.com/users/login.php
Name and
Credentials
Date of IRB Training
Certificate
Research Role
University/Department
IX. Performance Sites:
If the institution has an IRB, IRB approval may have to be received from that institution as well as Becker College. If the institution
does not have an IRB, the institution must authorize or provide permission for the research activities (Please include a site permission
letter from an institutional official.). If you are collecting data at a hospital with an IRB, seek hospital approval prior to submitting the
Becker IRB initial application form.
Name of Institution
Date of IRB Approval:
44
Becker IRB Initial Application
Revised: 01/05/16
Submit materials in a single PDF by E-mail: [email protected]
(For IRB use only) Becker IRB Protocol#: ____________
X. Acknowledgement
SUBMISSION OF A PROPOSAL TO THE BECKER COLLEGE IRB REQUIRES THAT THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
(AND MENTOR IF THE PI IS A STUDENT OR FELLOW) READ THE DEFINITION OF “SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT”
AND ANSWER ALL “CONFLICT OF INTEREST” QUESTIONS BELOW.
A. Scientific Misconduct
“Scientific Misconduct” shall be considered to include:
1. Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism or other unaccepted practices in proposing, carrying out, or reporting results from research;
2. Material failure to comply with federal requirements for the protection of human participants, researchers and/or the public;
3. Failure to meet other material legal requirements governing research;
4. Failure to comply with established standards regarding author names on publications;
5. Failure to adhere to issues of confidentiality as provided in the participant consent form, the study protocol, and as outlined in the Code of
Federal Regulations (45 CFR 46).
B. Conflict of Interest
1. Are you or any member of your immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and/or dependent children) an officer, director,
partner, trustee, employee, advisory board member, or agent of any of the following: (Check all that apply.)
An external organization funding this project
Any external organization from which goods and services will be obtained under this project (including
those to which you may be subcontracting a portion of the project work)
Any external organization whose financial condition could benefit from the results of this project
Any external organization having business dealings in an area related to the work under this project
2. Are you or any immediate family member the actual or beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the voting stock or
controlling interest of (a) the external organization funding this project, (b) any external organization from which goods and
services will be obtained under this project (including those to which you may be subcontracting a portion of the project work), (c)
any external organization whose financial condition could benefit from the results of this project, or (d) any external organization
having business dealings in an area related to the work under this project?
Yes
No
3. Have you or any member of your immediate family derived income within the past year, or do you or any member of your
immediate family anticipate deriving income, exceeding $10,000 per year from: (Check all that apply.)
An external organization funding this project
Any external organization from which goods and services will be obtained under this project (including those to which you
may be subcontracting a portion of the project work),
Any external organization whose financial condition could benefit from the results of this project
Any external organization having business dealings in an area related to the work under this project
Do not include funds that would pay your university salary under a sponsored project budget.
*If you checked any of the above, please specify the extent of involvement:
4. For those projects funded by any external entities, do you have a current, up-to-date Conflict of Interest Disclosure on file with the
Office of Academic Affairs that describes this financial relationship?
Yes
No (If no, you must submit an undated COI
disclosure before IRB review.)
45
Becker IRB Initial Application
Revised: 01/05/16
Submit materials in a single PDF by E-mail: [email protected]
(For IRB use only) Becker IRB Protocol#: ____________
SIGNATURES
SIGNATURE OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
The undersigned accept(s) responsibility for the study, including adherence to the ethical guidelines set forth in the Belmont Report,
Declaration of Helsinki, the Nuremberg Code, the ethical principles of your discipline, the Common Rule and Becker policies regarding
protections of the rights and welfare of human participants participating in this study. In the case of student protocols, the faculty supervisor
and the student share responsibility for adherence to policies.
Printed Name of Principal Investigator
Signature of Principal Investigator
Date
SIGNATURE OF FACULTY RESEARCH SUPERVISOR--REQUIRED FOR STUDENT RESEARCH
By signing this form, the faculty research supervisor attests that s/he has read the attached protocol submitted for Becker IRB review and
agrees to provide appropriate education and supervision of the student investigator and share the above Principal Investigator
responsibilities.
Printed Name of Faculty Research Supervisor
Signature of Faculty Research Supervisor
Date
SIGNATURE OF DEPARTMENT CHAIR OR DEAN--REQUIRED FOR FACULTY RESEARCH
Your signature below affirms that you have been informed of the research.
Printed Name of Department Chair or Dean
Signature of Department Chair or Dean
Date
46
Becker IRB Initial Application
Revised: 01/05/16
Submit materials in a single PDF by E-mail: [email protected]
Appendix B
Becker College Informed Consent
Informed Consent Instructions and Template
The IRB has developed a template for the informed consent (see following pages). Be sure to
complete each section and provide all the required information to speed up processing. Some
participants, such as minors, cannot give informed consent and you must get consent from their
legal representatives. The consent documents must be clearly written and understandable, often
necessitating translation into another language if the research will be conducted with speakers not
fluent in English.
In order to judge the reading level of your consent document, please follow these steps in
Microsoft Word:
1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the “Spelling & Grammar” tab.
2. In the Spelling & Grammar Window, select “check grammar with spelling” and “show
readability statistics.”
3. Click Spelling and Grammar on the Standard Toolbar or on the Tools Menu.
When Word finishes checking spelling and grammar, it will display information about the reading
level of the document. On the bottom line on the window that opens, check the Flesch-Kincaid
Grade Level Score. You want to aim at a 5th or 6th grade reading level. If your score is higher than
that, try to reduce the number of words in each sentence and the number of syllables in your
words.
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Informed Consent
Title of Project:
Principle Investigator (PI):
PI Phone Number:
PI Email: Co-PIs:
Student Investigators:
Date Submitted:
Introduction
Please read this carefully. This form tells you about a research study in which your participation is
requested. You are being asked to be in a research study of [insert general statement about study]. You
are selected eligible to participate in this study if [list inclusion criteria]. You are not eligible to
participate if [list exclusion criteria].
Purpose
Provide a brief statement of the purpose of the study.
Procedures
Provide a description of what participants will be asked to do and how long the study will take
(both length and frequency of participation). [For example; how many interviews, length of each
interview, the main research question to be asked, where the interview will take place]
Potential Benefits
State anticipated benefits the research will produce for society or the participants.
Potential Risks
Explain the risks (if any) of the research or explain that there are no foreseen risks or discomforts
to participating in the research. [If risks are anticipated discuss how they will be minimized]
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Payment to subjects (if applicable)
You will receive the following payment for being in the study: [explain amount of payment or other
reimbursement information (e.g., class points, tokens, donations, etc.), as well as when payment and/or
reimbursement will occur and in what cases payment will not occur if any].
Cost
There is no cost to you for being in this research study.
Right to Refusal or Withdrawal of Participation
Provide a statement that people may decline to answer questions and may withdraw from the study
without penalty at any time. If you are using students, you must include a statement that
participating or not participating in the study will have no impact on their academic status. If you
are using employees, you must state participating or not participating in the study will have no
impact on their employment status.
Assurance of Privacy and Confidentiality
Explain the extent to which information about the participants will be protected. Responses are
anonymous when the researcher does not know the identity or any identifying information about
who wrote them. If you are keeping a list connecting participants’ names to ID numbers, explain
how you will keep that information protected and separate from your data analysis. In all other
situations, you must explain the extent to which you will protect the participants’ identity. If
applicable, state that responses are meant to be combined with other participants’ data and are not
meant to gather information about specific individuals. If you hope to publish your research, ask
for that permission now.
Additional Information
Include the following information in paragraph form (do not use bullets):




Statement indicating that the researcher will be available to answer any questions about the
study.
Provide a telephone number and email where the researcher can be contacted if the
participant has questions.
Statement indicating that concerns may be directed to the Chair of the Becker College
Institutional Review Board, and provide the Chair’s name, telephone number and email
address (available at insert link to website here).
Statement indicating that you will provide a copy of the document for the participant and
keep a signed copy for yourself.
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By signing below, you are agreeing that you have read the above document, been given the opportunity to
ask questions, understand the risks and discomforts associated with the above study, and understand that
you may withdraw participation at any time without penalty.
Research Participant:
Printed Name:
_______________________________________________________________
Participant Signature: _________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________
For Parental Permission/Consent:
Participant (Printed Name): ____________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian (Printed Name): _______________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________________________________
Date: ________________________
For Consent of a Non-English Speaking Participant (interpreter required):
Printed Name:
_______________________________________________________________
Participant Signature: _________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________
Interpreter Printed Name: _____________________________________________________
Interpreter Signature: _________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________
Person Conducting Research Signatures:
I have explained the research to study subjects.
I have answered all of the questions to the best of my ability.
Signature: __________________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________
IRB Approval
This form has been approved by the Becker College IRB.
Authorized IRB Approval Signature: ______________________________________
Date: ________________
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