Boston College

Office for Research Protections (ORP)
Institutional Review Board (IRB)


    Boston College           IRB Newsletter     November 2013                                                    

In This Issue
Latest News
New Procedures
Reminders
Quick Links
IRB Meetings (full board review only)
November 20, 2013
December 18, 2013
January 15, 2014
February 19, 2014
March 19, 2014
April 16, 2014
May 21, 2014
June 18, 2014
July 16, 2014
August 20, 2014
  
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Office for Research Protections (ORP)

ORP provides administrative support to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). If you have any questions or concerns as you navigate your way through the IRB process, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are available by phone (x24778) or email ([email protected]) during normal business hours. We look forward to working with you to help facilitate a positive experience with the IRB.

 

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

 

The mission of the IRB is to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects who volunteer to participate in research at Boston College. Federal regulations and University Policy require prospective review and approval of all human subject research conducted by faculty, staff, or students.  As with Boston College's Jesuit tradition of excellence, service and beneficence, the goal of the IRB is to ensure the safe and ethical treatment of research participants.

 

Latest News
  • ORP recently added two new staff members to our team. Joanne Nesdekidis is our new IRB/IACUC Analyst. Elizabeth (Betsy) Neylon is our new IRB Analyst. Joanne and Betsy are hard at work honing their skills as new IRB professionals.  They look forward to fostering positive relationships with our PI's.
     
  • The Office of the Provost welcomed Thomas Chiles and Bill Nunez to Waul House over the summer, Tom is our new Vice Provost for Research and Academic Planning. Tom plans to work with colleagues to create a strategic plan for the sciences at BC. Bill is our new Executive Director of Research Administration. In this important role, Bill is responsible for the daily oversight of research administration.
     
  • The CITI website for human subjects training has undergone a significant software upgrade. CITI 2.0 offers new modules, new courses and improved functionality and features for learners. Although it looks slightly different, the required human subjects training courses for submtting an IRB application remain the same. See the IRB Training Policy for further information.
     
  • ORP is now on Twitter! Please follow us @BC_IRB.
New Procedures
  • All IRB protocols should be closed when a project is complete or the PI has left BC. ORP has created a simple, one-page Project Closure Form for PI's to use when their research has concluded. ORP appreciates your cooperation with completing this form.

 

Reminders
  • It is essential that PI's read the conditions outlined in their IRB approval letter. According to the terms of the letter, all changes, however minor, must be approved by the IRB through the use of an amendment form  prior to implementing any changes. This includes adjusting the language in the consent form(s) and increasing the number of participants. Noncompliance is a serious matter especially concerning federally funded protocols. 
     
  • Please contact us if you would like a representative from the IRB office to come to your class or attend a faculty meeting to answer any questions about the IRB process.
     
  • Following the instructions on the application forms and letters requesting changes is a key step  in avoiding delays in the approval of protocols. For example, when sending revisions to a protocol, PI's should include only the materials that have been revised, not the entire protocol. Protocols are returned to PI's if they have not complied with ORP's instructions. PI's who are unsure of the instructions are encouraged to call ORP. 
     
  • Full board protocols must be submitted 10 business days in advance of the next IRB meeting. 
     
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