Institutional Review Board
OHRP/PHS Identification Numbers:
FWA00005799 (Federalwide Assurance) Expires: August 31, 2023
IRB00003264 (Institutional Review Board)
Purpose and Policy on Use of Human Subjects in Research
The primary purpose of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research activities being conducted under the authority of Jacksonville State University (JSU). In doing so, the IRB shall adhere to the JSU Policy on Research Using Human Subjects (Policy II:08:01).
The policy on the use of human subjects in research applies to any activity deemed to be research at Jacksonville State University. The applicability of this policy is to all entities of the University - faculty, administration, staff, students, and contracted consultants. This policy applies to any research activity using human subjects that is directly or indirectly supported by the University.
A copy of the HHS regulations (45 CFR 46 Protection of Human Subjects) pertaining to the use of human subjects in research is available at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.html or from the Institutional Review Board, 203 Angle Hall.
JSU, like most institutions, will review all research proposals involving human participants, whether funded or not. It is the policy of this University to apply the regulations to all research and research-related activities that involve human subjects.
Human Subject Review Board
The Institutional Review Board for Human Use (IRB) is a committee that reviews all JSU research involving human participants. The purpose of the IRB is to assure that research is conducted in an ethical manner. This includes ensuring that risks to participants are minimized, the selection of participants is equitable, and participants are informed fully of what their involvement will entail.
The IRB Human Subject Review Board is composed of five members, including the Chair, appointed by the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, pursuant to the regulations [45 CFR 46.107].
Application and Review Procedures
All applications for IRB review shall be submitted to:
Vice Provost, Academic Affairs
Jacksonville State University
203 Angle Hall
700 Pelham Road North
Jacksonville, AL 36265
Email: irb@jsu.edu
Types of IRB Applications
Exempt, Expedited, and Full Review Application: Under the Federal Regulation [45 CRF 46], research involving the use of human subjects is classified into three distinct categories or levels: exempt, expedited, and all other. There are exclusive restrictions related to research involving subject populations that include prisoners, fetuses, pregnant women, children, institutionalized individuals (i.e., mentally disabled), other potentially vulnerable groups, and human in vitro fertilization. An outline of specific regulations relating to restricted population can be obtained from the Health and Human Services regulations on file in the Office of the Vice Provost, Academic Affairs.
Quality Improvement Application: Quality Improvement (QI) projects involve systematic, data-guided initiatives or processes designed to improve clinical care, patient safety, health care operations, services, and programs or for developing new programs or services. These important goals typically do not reflect research since quality improvement efforts are not research subject to the Health and Human Services protection of human subjects.
Application Instructions
For Exempt, Expedited, and Full Review Application - The investigator must complete the Institutional Review Board Application Form
For Doctor of Nursing Practice Quality Improvement Application – The investigator must complete the Doctor of Nursing Practice Quality Improvement Application
In addition to the application, the investigator must submit:
- Complete the CITI Program IRB Training Courses: Social & Behavioral Research and Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research and submit the certificates. If the following courses do not appear, please follow these steps:
- Register an account on CITI Program.
- This will prompt you to Select your Organization Affiliation. Here, type in Jacksonville State University and click "Create a CITI Program account." Follow the instructions and create your CITI account utilizing your JSU email.
- After creating your account, you will be asked to "Select Curriculum." Please select the following courses. Under question #1, select "Social & Behavioral Research Investigators" and under question #7, select "Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research." Click submit and both courses should populate under "Courses Ready to Begin."
- Alternatively, under “My Courses” select “View Courses” beside Jacksonville State University. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and under “Learner Tools for Jacksonville State University” click “Add a Course.” Answer question #1 and select "Social & Behavioral Research Investigators" and question #7 and select "Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research." Click submit and both courses should populate under "Courses Ready to Begin."
- Please complete the "Social & Behavioral Research" and "Social and Behavioral Respondent Conduct of Research" courses and submit both certifications with your IRB application.
- Copy of the research proposal including methodology.
- Other supporting documents as appropriate such as a copy of the informed consent, questionnaire/survey to be used, and institutional letters of support if collaborating with external organizations.
*Any human subject research that involves international travel must contact the International Travel Risk Committee Chair for additional approval
Definition of Terms
Federal regulations mandate that very narrowly defined types of research are exempt.
Research activities in which the only involvement of human subjects will be one or more of the following categories and that do not involve vulnerable populations are exempt from 45 CFR 46.
1. Research conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings, involving normal educational practices, such as:
a. Research on regular and special educational instructional strategies.
b. Research on the effectiveness of/or the comparison among instructional techniques, curricular, 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, unless:
a. Information obtained is recorded in such a manner that human subjects can be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects.
b. Any disclosure of the human subjects' responses 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. Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey procedures, interview procedures, or observation of public behavior that is not exempt under paragraphs 2.b) of this section, if:
a. The human participants are elected or appointed public officials or candidates for public office.
b. Federal statute (s) require (s) without exception that the confidentiality of the personally identifiable information will be maintained throughout the research and thereafter.
4. Research involving the collection or study of existing data, documents, records, pathological specimens, or diagnostic specimens, if these sources are publicly available or if the information is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that subjects cannot be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects.
5. Research and demonstration projects which are conducted by/or subject to the approval of department or agency heads, and which are designed to study, evaluate, or otherwise examine:
a. Public benefit or service programs.
b. Procedures for obtaining benefits or services under those programs.
c. Possible changes in or alternatives to those programs or procedures.
d. Possible changes in methods or levels of payment for benefits or services under those programs.
6. Taste and food quality evaluation and consumer acceptance studies,
a. If wholesome foods without additives are consumed.
b. If a food is consumed that contains a food ingredient at or below the level and for a use found to be safe, or agricultural chemical or environmental contaminant at or below the level found to be safe, by the Food and Drug Administration or approved by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Federal Regulation identifies ten restricted types of research that may be reviewed by the IRB using an expedited procedure. Research activities involving minimal risk and in which the only involvement of human subjects will be in one or more of the following categories (carried out through standard methods) may be reviewed through the expedited review procedure authorized in 45 CFR 46.110.
1. Collection of: hair and nail clippings, in a non-disfiguring manner; deciduous teeth; and permanent teeth if patient care
indicated a need for extraction.
2. Collection of excreta and external secretions including sweat, uncannulated saliva, placenta removed at delivery, and amniotic fluid at the time of rupture of the membrane prior to or during labor.
3. Recording of data from subjects 18 years of age or older using noninvasive procedures routinely employed in clinical practice. This includes the use of physical sensors that are applied either to the surface of the body or at a distance and do not involve input of matter or significant amounts of energy into the subject or an invasion of the subject's privacy. It also includes such procedures as weighing, testing sensory acuity, electrocardiography, electroencephalography, thermography, detection of naturally occurring radioactivity, diagnostic echography, and electroretinography. It does not include exposure to electromagnetic radiation outside the visible range (for example, x-ray, microwaves).
4. Collection of blood samples by venipuncture, in amounts not exceeding 450 milliliters in an eight-week period and no more often that two times per week, from subjects 18 years of age or older and who are in good health and not pregnant.
5. Collection of both supra- and subgingival dental plaque and calculus, provided the procedure is not more invasive than routine prophylactic scaling of the teeth and the process is accomplished in accordance with accepted prophylactic techniques.
6. Voice recordings made for research purposes such as investigations of speech defects.
7. Moderate exercise by healthy volunteers.
8. The study of existing data, documents, records, pathological specimens, or diagnostic specimens.
9. Research on individual or group behavior or characteristics of individuals, such as studies of perception, cognition, game theory, or test development, where the investigator does not manipulate subjects' behavior and the research will not involve stress to subjects.
10. Research on drugs or devises for which an investigational new drug exemption is not required.
From the American Psychologist, June 1981, 637-638.
"The decision to undertake research rests upon a considered judgment by the individual researcher about how to contribute to knowledge and human welfare. Having made the decision to conduct research, the investigator considers alternative directions in which research energies and resources might be invested. On the basis of this consideration, the researcher carries out the investigation with respect and concern for the dignity and welfare of the people who participate and with cognizance of federal and state regulations and professional standards governing the conduct of research with human participants."
A. In planning a study, the investigator has the responsibility to make a careful evaluation of its ethical acceptability. To the extent that the weighing of scientific and human values suggests a compromise of any principle, the investigator incurs a correspondingly serious obligation to seek ethical advice and to observe stringent safeguards to protect the rights of human participants.
B. Considering whether a participant in a planned study will be a "subject at risk," according to recognized standards, is of primary ethical concern to the investigator.
C. The investigator always retains the responsibility for ensuring ethical practice in research. The investigator is also responsible for the ethical treatment of research participants by collaborators, assistants, students, and employees, all of whom, however, incur similar obligations.
D. Except in minimal-risk research, the investigator establishes a clear and fair agreement with research participants, prior to their participation, that clarifies the obligations and responsibilities of each. The investigator has the obligation to honor all promises and commitments included in that agreement. The investigator informs the participants of all aspects of the research that might reasonably be expected to influence willingness to participate and explains all other aspects of the research about which the participants inquire. Failure to make full disclosure prior to obtaining informed consent requires additional safeguards to protect the welfare and dignity of the research participants. Research with children or with participants who have impairments that would limit understanding and/or communications requires special safeguarding procedures.
E. Methodological requirements of a study may make the use of concealment or deception necessary. Before conducting such a study, the investigator has a special responsibility to
1. determine whether the use of such techniques is justified by the study's prospective scientific, educational, or applied
value;
2. determine whether alternative procedures are available that do not use concealment or deception;
3. ensure that the participants are provided with sufficient explanation as soon as possible.
F. The investigator respects the individual's freedom to decline to participate in or to withdraw from the research at any time. The obligations to protect this freedom require careful thought and consideration when the investigator is in a position of authority or influence over the participant. Such positions of authority include, but are not limited to, situations in which research participation is required as part of employment or in which the participant is a student, client, or employee of the investigator.
G. The investigator protects the participant from physical and mental discomfort, harm, and danger that arise from research procedures. If risks of such consequences exist, the investigator informs the participant of that fact. Research procedures likely to cause serious or lasting harm to a participant are not used unless the failure to use these procedures might expose the participant to risk of greater harm, or unless the research has great potential benefit and fully informed and voluntary consent is obtained from each participant. The participant should be informed of procedures for contacting the investigator within a reasonable time period following participation should stress, potential harm, or related questions arise.
H. After the data are collected, the investigator provides the participant with information about the nature of the study and attempts to remove any misconceptions that may have arisen. Where scientific and human values justify delaying or withholding this information, the investigator incurs a special responsibility to monitor the research and to ensure that there are no damaging consequences for the participant.
I. Where research procedures result in undesirable consequences for the individual participant, the investigator has the responsibility to detect and remove or correct these consequences, including long-term effects.
J. Information obtained about a research participant during the course of an investigation is confidential unless otherwise agreed upon in advance. When the possibility exists that others may obtain access to such information, this possibility, together with the plans for protecting confidentiality, is explained to the participant as part of this procedure for obtaining informed consent.
Review Procedures
Complete IRB and DNP Quality Improvement applications will receive an initial evaluation by the IRB Administrator to determine content and impact of the project on human subjects. Principal Investigators should submit their applications with enough time to allow for review and revisions before the start of the research project. The IRB Committee suggests submitting applications at least 1 month prior to the start date. Below, denotes the general timeline for the review process:
IRB Review Procedures
- Exempt and Expedited Applications – Will be initially reviewed by the IRB administrator and reviewed/approved by either the committee chair, committee member, or a sub-committee of the IRB. Exempt and expedited applications will be processed within 10 business days (exclusive of weekends and holidays) of receipt of completed application and all supporting documents.
- Full Board Applications - Will be reviewed/approved by the full IRB committee. In general terms, full board reviews require approximately 4 weeks for review.
- Review Process - Applications will be evaluated in terms of the IRB Application Review Sheet and will be fully approved, approved with revisions, or denied. The IRB committee will provide a recommendation and feedback on how Principal Investigators may modify their applications to be in accordance with IRB requirements.
- Continuing Renewal - Currently, federal regulations dictate that previously approved Expedited and Full Board studies must be re-reviewed annually at least once a year. Federal regulations do not permit the IRB to waive this requirement or grant an extension. If the protocol is not reviewed and approved by the expiration date, you must stop all aspects of your human participants’ research until your continuing renewal application is submitted, reviewed and approved by the IRB. Exempt research does not require annual review/renewal.
- Amendments or Changes to Approved Research - A modification is defined as any change to a protocol from what was previously approved during the period for which approval has already been given. Changes of any kind in research procedures, the recruitment process, the recruitment instruments, the informed consent/assent process, and/or to the consent/assent document cannot be initiated by the investigator prior to IRB review and approval, except where necessary to eliminate apparent immediate hazards to human participants. Please notify the IRB immediately and in writing of any amendments or changes via email at irb@jsu.edu.
DNP QI Review Procedures
- Quality Improvement Applications- Quality improvement (QI) project involving patients or patient care processes must submit their project using the DNP QI Application Form.
- Review Process - The application will be reviewed by the Doctor of Nursing Practice Quality Improvement Subcommittee to determine if the project is quality improvement or research on human subjects as outlined in human subjects regulations (45 CFR 46.112). The review of DNP QI applications will take 10 business days. If the project is determined to be human subjects research, the Principal Investigator will need to complete an IRB Application to be considered for Full, Expedited, or Exempt review. Projects considered quality improvement will be reviewed by the DNP QI Subcommittee and projects considered human subjects research will be reviewed by the IRB committee.