Institutional Review Board For The Protection Of Human Subjects (IRB)

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews all research activities that involve human subjects.

 DOES YOUR PROJECT NEED IRB REVIEW and APPROVAL?

  • Do you or your students use human subjects in research or class research assignments?
  • Do you or your students conduct surveys with any persons or institutions in or outside of the University of Scranton community?
  • Do you or your students use members of the University of Scranton community outside of your own classes?
  • Do you or your students plan to publish the results of a project involving human subjects research?
  • Have you been contacted by any persons outside of the University who wish to use members of the University of Scranton community as research subjects?
If you answered YES to any question above - YOU DO NEED THE IRB!
All research projects using human subjects, classroom assignments as well as individual research, must be submitted to the IRB for review. No phase of a project may begin until approval is obtained.
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Meeting Schedule


Current Members

IRB Committee Members
                               IRB Committee Members
                               Academic Year 2022-2023
Bryan Burnham, Ph.D., Chair Psychology
Ovidiu Cocieru, Ph.D. Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship
Sabine Charles, M.D., Dr. PH. Epidemiologist, Lackawanna County
Marian Farrell, Ph.D. Nursing
William Miller, Ph.D. Health Administration and Human Resources
Kathryn Yerkes Assistant Provost, Planning & Institutional Effectiveness and IRB Administrator
Andrew Venezia, Ph.D. Health and Human Performance
Donald Bergmann** Chief of Police
Therese Kurilla** Grants Mgr.,  Research and Sponsored Programs

**Non-voting

 

IRB Forms

CITI and IRBNet Training

All investigators (i.e., Principal Investigators (PI), faculty advisors, and other persons including student researchers) actively engaged in human subject research are required to complete and maintain human subjects research training requirements. Training must be completed no less than three (3) years prior to submission of the IRB application, and must remain current through the research project. Members of the University's IRB Committee, and members of Departmental Review Boards (DRBs), are also required to maintain current training.

The University's approved educational training is offered to the University of Scranton community through a contract with the CITI (Collaborative IRB Training Initiative) program. University personnel and students have unlimited access, so we encourage faculty members to use this online training for Research Methods Classes.

Please note, if a research project is grant funded, those involved in the project may need to complete additional CITI Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training modules. 


Required IRB Training Program (CITI)


IRBNet TRAINING

The University uses the IRBNet platform to gather and process IRB applications of all types. Click below to learn more about how to navigate the IRBNet system.

Getting started training:  IRBNet Training Energizers to help you get started can currently be found at the following link:  http://www.irbnetresources.org/tresources/vd/r1.html

  • When prompted, please enter the institutional login -- Username: scranton and Password: training.  You may log in to the training system at any time to begin training.
Submitting revisions training: IRBNet Training Energizers for creating a subsequent package when revisions to an initial package are required: Subsequent package training

Policies & Regulations

University of Scranton IRB Policy:

Federal Regulations:

Contact

General questions about IRB, and questions related to a specific IRB protocol may be directed to Kate Yerkes, IRB Administrator, at kathryn.yerkes@scranton.edu, or to the IRB Committee Chair, Dr. Bryan Burnham, at bryan.burnham@scranton.edu.

IRB Guidance and Resources

IRB Education Requirements

Anonymous, Confidential, or De-Identified? Understanding Key Terms

"Do You Need the IRB?" Info Sheet

About Informed Consent in Human Subjects Research

About Informed Consent


Informed Consent From HHS: "The informed consent process involves three key features: (1) disclosing to potential research subjects information needed to make an informed decision; (2) facilitating the understanding of what has been disclosed; and (3) promoting the voluntariness of the decision about whether or not to participate in the research. Informed consent must be legally effective and prospectively obtained. HHS regulations at 45 CFR 46.116 and 45 CFR 46.117 describe the informed consent requirements."

Informed consent language must be organized and presented in a way that facilitates comprehension, is in clear and non-technical language  appropriate to the subject, and is at an appropriate reading level. Informed consent materials should provide sufficient information that a “reasonable person” would want to have in order to make a choice about whether or not to take part in the research activity. Informed consent materials, where printed or verbal, must address the following elements:

  • That consent is being sought for research
  • The purposes of the research, duration of participation, and study procedures
  • That participation is voluntary, subjects may end participation at any time, and there is no penalty for not taking part
  • Any foreseeable risks or discomforts (remember - there is never "no risk" to participating, though risk may be no more than that encountered during every day activities)
  • Potential benefits to subjects or others
  • Alternatives to participation, if any, and
  • Other elements that may apply based upon the nature of the research

Review by other Research Committees and University Personnel

As described in the IRB Policy,

  • In addition to IRB review, review by other research committees may be necessary depending upon the type of research to be undertaken. These committees include the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Researchers are responsible for consulting the Chairpersons of these committees to determine if IBC and/or IACUC review and approval is required.
  • IRB approval for a research activity does not constitute approval to utilize University programs, facilities, or services/practices for research purposes. Researchers should consult with relevant University administrators to secure any other approval or permission required.
  • IRB approval is separate from approvals or requests to use University data, such as student or employee email addresses, for research purposes. IRB approval does not constitute approval for these activities or access to such data.

Other Research Resources

Research Compliance Home: IRB, IACUC, IBC, and RSC Committees

Office of Research and Grants Support

Internal Grants and Research Funding, Office of the Provost

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