Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
For Students regarding the IRB Process

Doctoral students who have not defended a dissertation proposal or submitted a CRP prospectus by May 9, 2009, will need to complete the training going forward. This means that students who pass a proposal defense or submit a prospectus on May 10 and beyond will also need to submit their CITI certification, proving that they have successfully completed the training. The training certificate should be submitted to the IRB along with the other documents when applying for protocol certification.

May 10 will also signal the date by which we will expect all research protocols to be in conformity to the new Handbook. Below is a brief summary of the major changes reflected in the new Handbook.


Major Changes in IRB Requirements:
1. A Conflict of Interest Statement has been added
2. Language was added to address cross-campus research
3. Language was added to address class research projects
4. IRB forms were streamlined
5. The IRB Handbook is hyperlinked to facilitate ease of use.



Also,

Effective 2/20/2009, the following procedure governing IRB applications will be implemented. Please convey this information to faculty and doctoral students.

The IRB has up to 30 days (Exempt and Expedited) and 60 days (Full IRB Review) to make a decision. However, every effort is being made to respond in the shortest time possible. The “clock starts” upon the receipt of a completed application. Incomplete applications will no longer be accepted and will be returned. Completed applications have all questions answered; signatures of both student and chair/advisor; informed consent documents (where appropriate); and a letter giving the principal researcher permission to conduct the study. The letter must be on official letterhead and must contain a hand signature of the organizational authority or owner of the data. In cases where the agency, school, or organization requires approval or verification from the IRB prior to issuing its permission letter, the student must state that in writing when submitting the application. If the data are public and require no permission to be granted, the student must explain where the data can be found and how the data are accessed.

The IRB will accept applications in electronic or hard copy formats; however, all documents must come in one packet, at one time, by the same person, in the same format. For example, signature pages will no longer be accepted separately from the rest of the application. Neither can students submit one part of the application on one day and another part on a different day. Documents should be submitted to Christie Vozniak at MBradfield@Argosy.edu with the title in the subject area of the email titled: IRB REVIEW.

Please do not call or email asking when you might expect to hear back from the IRB. Applications are reviewed in order of receipt. The same applies to revised applications. Normally, there are 12-15 new applications and at least a half-dozen revised applications in each queue at any given time. Again, we are making every effort to respond as quickly as possible.

Thanks for your understanding and support.

Murray O. Bradfield, Jr., Ph.D.
Campus Vice President for Academic Affairs
Argosy University, Atlanta
980 Hammond Drive, Bldg. 2, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 770.407.1052
FAX: 770.671.0476
mbradfield@argosy.edu