Applying for IRB Review
Getting Started
IRB approval must be obtained prior to involving human subjects in the project. All investigators should consult the Carroll College IRB Policy & Procedures Manual for detailed instructions about the application and review processes. The manual and all necessary forms can be downloaded from the Carroll College Portal (under Academic Services and IRB Documents). Please give special attention to following the procedures and guidelines for preparing your research proposals. Proposals that are incomplete or poorly written will be returned to the applicant for revision, which will cause (sometimes unnecessary) delays.
Thank you for attending to this important matter. We wish you much success in your research and in protecting the rights, welfare, and basic human rights of any persons involved in your research.
If you are prepared to submit your application, the documents you need are available on the Carroll College Portal, linked here. Further information and instruction are available on this page.
Application Review Period
Research proposal applications are reviewed throughout the academic year. Applicant and review deadlines for the Fall Semester 2017 are as follows:
September 11 (initial review completed by October 6)
October 9 (initial review completed by November 3)
November 6 (initial review completed by December 1)
December 4 (initial review completed by February 2)
Required Online Ethics Training Course
Before making an application to the IRB, investigators must receive training on the protection of human subjects. All investigators who will be involved in the proposed project must complete the NIH-sponsored "Protecting Human Research Participants" training course, available free online at the National Institute of Health website. The course takes approximately two hours to complete.
A Completion Certificate, made available to print (digitall and/or literally) upon completion of the course, is acceptable as documentation of training. Each investigator who will be involved in the project -- including Principal Investigators, Co-Investigators and Faculty Advisers of student proposals -- must be listed on the application and must submit a copy of his or her completion certificate as part of a complete application.
The Carroll College IRB accepts certifications earned within three years of applying to the IRB.
The Application Packet
The first step in the application process is the compilation of an application packet, the contents of which will vary according to the proposed project. All forms are available in the Carroll College Portal, under Campus resources and IRB Documents, linked here.
Here are the forms that you will need to complete and/or include in your submission:
- IRB Application (all projects)
- NIH Completion Certificates for all investigators and advisers (all projects)
In addition, all applications will include one of the following:
- Consent Form(s) (the template provided in the portal is recommended)
- Waiver of Consent Form (also for projects in which prior, written informed consent must be modified; see the form for instructions)
Here are additional forms that you will also include, depending on your particular project:
- All recruitment processes, scripts and promotional materials
- All questionnaires, surveys, measuring devises, or other materials pertinent to data collection
- The research proposal, protocol, or grant application supporting the proposed project, where relevant
- HIPAA Authorization Form where relevant (form available in the Carroll College Portal, linked here)
The principal investigator is responsible for completing all applicable forms as well as securing appropriate signatures. Proposals that are incomplete or unclear will be returned to the investigator for completion or clarification, thus delaying the review and approval process.
Download the IRB Application and other forms here
How to Fill Out IRB Forms
Carroll College IRB application forms are designed to be downloaded from the Carroll College website and completed electronically. These forms are not designed to be printed and then completed manually, as they do not provide sufficient space for all responses. You may save the forms on your computer to complete at a later date. Typing your name on the form in the appropriate place, and then submitting the form to Moodle, constitutes your electronic signature. See below for submission instructions. Questions about application forms should be directed to the IRB Chair, Alan Hansen, at ahansen@carroll.edu or 406.447.5401.
Submitting the Application
Carroll College IRB application forms are designed to be downloaded from the Carroll College website and completed electronically. These forms are not designed to be printed and then completed manually, as they do not provide sufficient space for all responses. You may be save forms on your computer to complete at a later date.
As you proceed, do the following to submit forms:
a) Download the IRB Application from the IRB Documents on the Carroll College Portal (under Campus Resources and Academics, and linked here). Fill out the application in its entirety and also prepare all supporting forms (e.g. Consent Form, Waiver Form) and documents (e.g. recruitment scripts, surveys) as required in the application.
b) Upload the IRB application and ALL supporting documents to the IRB Moodle page. More specifically, we need all of the following:
i) IRB Application
ii) NIH certificates for ALL investigators (e.g. PI, co-PIs, co-investigators and the faculty/staff advisor)
iii) Supporting forms (Consent Form, Waiver Form, etc.)
iv) Research documents (recruitment materials, survey instruments, interview questionnaires, etc.)
NOTE: IRB Review cannot begin until the complete application and required supporting documents have been uploaded to the IRB Moodle page. If you have any questions, please contact Alan Hansen, IRB Chair (ahansen@carroll.edu and/or 447-5401).
Additional Resources