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Sponsored Programs (Grants)

Revised 3-25-2024

IRB Application General Template 

Contact Information

Director: Tandy Keenan
Vinson Hall 311
(580) 327-8110
trkeenan@nwosu.edu

 

 

 

Committee Members 2023-2024

Dr. James Bell
Vice President for Academic Affairs
(580) 327-8590
jlbell@nwosu.edu

Ms. Brenda Hood
Schuessler Agency
1002 Oklahoma Blvd.
Alva, OK 73717
(580) 327-0707
mbh1929@sbcglobal.net

Ms. Kaylyn Hansen
Director, Office of Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness
(580) 327-8150
klhansen@nwosu.edu

Dr. Leslie Collins
Associate Professor of Nursing
Chair of Nursing
(580) 327-8496
lncollins@nwosu.edu

Dr. Bo Hannaford
President
(580) 327-8406
bshannaford@nwosu.edu

Dr. Wayne McMillin
Dean, NWOSU-Enid
(580) 213-3105
wlmcmillin@nwosu.edu

Dr. Shawn Holliday
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies
(580) 327-8589
spholliday@nwosu.edu

Mr. Shane Hansen
Chair, Health & Sports Science 
Instructor of Sports Science
(580) 327-8628
schansen@nwosu.edu

Ms. Tandy Keenan
Director of Sponsored Programs
(580) 327-8110
trkeenan@nwosu.edu

 

Policies, Procedures & Reports

Policies, Procedures, and Reports: The Use of Human Subjects in Research

INTRODUCTION       

We try to complete reviews much faster, but please allow up to thirty (30) days for reviews.    The major goal of Northwestern Oklahoma State University is to serve the larger community of the state of Oklahoma by providing opportunities for higher education to students, by broadening their educational horizons, and by helping them develop research skills. In so doing, the rights and privacy of all subjects participating in research projects must be protected. The university willingly undertakes this responsibility while at the same time endeavors not to infringe upon the academic freedom of the members of the university. Thus, as part of this responsibility, the university seeks to protect the rights of individuals involved as subjects in all research projects. This policy was developed in response to the requirements of NSF-207, "Protection of Human Subjects Under NSF-Supported Projects," and applies to all research involving human subjects at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

The IRB committee shall consist of at least six (6) people; five (5) shall be the current members of Grants Oversight Committee or professionals associated with the university and the sixth a person not otherwise affiliated with the university. All members are appointed by the Executive Vice President. At least one must be a non-scientist.

PROCEDURES

All members of Northwestern Oklahoma State University (undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and administrators) who wish to conduct research employing human subjects, as well as non-university members wishing to do research in partnership with a member of Northwestern Oklahoma State University or on a NWOSU campus must submit an IRB application and proposal to the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). This proposal will describe the study subjects and the parameters of the study. Forms are available under the Sponsored Programs link at nwosu.edu or by contacting the OSP.

The IRB Committee’s approval of the research project shall be contingent on the following:  (a) sufficient information given to the potential subjects to enable them to make an informed decision whether to participate, including an explanation of the purposes of the research and a description of any reasonable and foreseeable risks or discomforts, and (b) assurance that these risks will be minimized and are in reasonable proportion to the expected benefits.

It is the ultimate responsibility of the researchers to file their proposal with the Office of Sponsored Programs.  Students doing research with human subjects are responsible for filing proposals; however, it is the responsibility of the supervising faculty member to inform students of their responsibility and to review their students' proposals before submission to the OSP.  Proposals may be filed at any time but approval must be obtained before the research is initiated.  The IRB Committee will review proposals as quickly as possible, but a review time of less than one month cannot be guaranteed.  Researchers who fail to file proposals and obtain approval prior to administering any research instrument involving human subjects are violating the rules of the university. Breaches will be reviewed by university administration on a case by case basis. 

When is application to the IRB Required?

It is the policy of Northwestern Oklahoma State University that all research involving human subjects conducted by faculty, students, or staff of NWOSU shall be submitted to the NWOSU Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) for review. If an IRB review is deemed necessary by the OSP, the OSP will initiate the review. The Investigator must have IRB Approval or a notice from the OSP that an IRB review is not necessary before initiating the research. This is true regardless of the research location.

The policy that all research, even exempted research, is reviewed transfers liability to the IRB Chair if any project or details are questioned and assures that the university is aware of all research being conducted. 

To determine if a researcher’s project requires IRB review, the researcher will need to assess if it meets the definition of research and if human subjects are truly involved.

For purposes of the IRB, research is defined as a systematic investigation (i.e., the gathering and analysis of information) designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge (45 CFR 46.102(a)). Any activity that fails to meet either of these criteria is not considered research for the purposes of the IRB. This definition applies regardless of what a funding agency may call the activity. (e.g., demonstration grants).

Generalizable knowledge is determined by whether results are published, presented to the public, or developed for others to build upon. This includes theses, creative components, oral histories, and in‐class research if results may be disseminated outside of the classroom now or in the future. “Creative components” is a broad topic and examples include media/journal articles, films, and books. 

A human subject is defined as a living individual about whom an investigator conducting research obtains:

  • Data through intervention or interaction with the individual; or
  • Identifiable private information, which includes information about behavior that occurs in a context in which an individual can reasonably expect will not be made public (a medical record, for example); private information must be individually identifiable in order for obtaining the information to constitute research with human subjects (45CFR 46.102(f)).

All NWOSU research requires signed Informed Consent from participants unless the PI can justify to the IRB why they should not be included. Research conducted on non-NWOSU properties must obtain written Informed Consent from an authorized facility representative. 

Instructions for Submitting an IRB Application

Instructions for Submitting an IRB Application       Please allow up to thirty (30) days for review.

1. Review IRB requirements and details at https://www.nwosu.edu/sponsored-programs/irb. Tandy Keenan is available for class-by-class IRB training (~30-40 minutes) and a hands-on workshop to offer support to complete the application as requested by advisors. 

The training covers the history of IRBs and an overview of NWOSU’s process. The workshop is set up in a computer lab and allows up to two hours of workshop time to complete the application.

2. Submit a Word copy of the application template (Available at the link above.) with all instruments and supporting documents inserted into the application. Only submit one document to Tandy Keenan, IRB Chair, at TRKeenan@NWOSU.edu. Do not submit a hard copy of your application. 

If you need to make edits to a submitted application, complete your edits and submit a “new” application. The IRB Chair will not edit applications. 

You may only alter the template under your advisor’s guidance. The red text guides how to answer questions and how to complete the required Informed Consent and the Facility Consent Form, if applicable.

In certain instances, the Informed Consent requirement is waived or altered to protect the confidentiality of the study participants. This will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

3. You will receive an email from Tandy Keenan within five days of submission confirming that your application has been received. Your advisor will be cc’d on all correspondence, if applicable. If you do not receive this confirmation email within that timeframe, please contact Tandy at 580-327-8110 or TRKeenan@NWOSU.edu to check the status.

4. Once an application is received, the IRB Chair will review it. If needed, it will be returned to the student for edits or sent on to the IRB for review. (Types of IRB Reviews https://www.nwosu.edu/sponsored-programs/irb). Please allow up to 30 days for reviews to be completed.

5. If the IRB requests edits or clarification, the student and advisor will be notified by email. All approvals will be sent via email with “Approved” added to the subject line.

Note: All links listed above are in the current webpage view. Links are listed as a reference for those who need to print or copy and paste this page. 

IRB Training & Workshop Information

IRB Training

The IRB training takes approximately 30-40 minutes in the advisor’s classroom. The training provides an overview and history of the Institutional Review Board as well as the specific resources needed to complete the IRB application at NWOSU. 30 minute training plus Q&A Session. Available year-round by reservation. Evening and Saturday sessions are also available with a minimum two-week notice.

This training is available in-person/ITV or via ZOOM/Go-To-Meeting with the IRB Chair (Tandy Keenan). Several have requested a training video, but I want to make sure researchers receive current and accurate information with the opportunity to ask questions directly.

 

IRB Workshop

The 1-2 hour IRB Workshop is by arrangement and set up in one of the computer labs or classrooms if students have computer access. It is a hands-on experience to provide guidance to complete the IRB application and ask specific questions. Ideally, the researchers can complete their applications and have them ready to submit to the IRB Chair at the end of the Workshop. Evening and Saturday Workshops are also available by arrangement and coordination with the computer lab director or other resource. The Workshop is also available via ZOOM or Go-To-Meeting.  Please contact sponsored programs for other alternate accommodations. 

Types of Review

All research activity must be approved by exempt, expedited, or full review from the IRB Committee. The levels determine what degree of scrutiny is needed.  “Exempt” requires a single person to sign off (Chair), “expedited” requires a review by at least two individuals, and “full review” means a minimum of six committee members must review the project. The level of review required is determined by confidentiality concerns and potential risk to which participants may be subjected. 

Exempt Review

The federal government has identified certain categories of research involving human subjects that qualify for exemption from federal regulations. Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) is authorized by the federal government to determine whether studies thought by the principal investigator (PI) to be exempt from federal regulations actually qualify for exemption. Such determination is made on behalf of NWOSU by the IRB. Only the IRB has authority to make a determination that a study is exempt from federal regulations and from IRB review and approval. When the IRB notifies a PI that a research project is EXEMPT, it also notifies the PI that the research is approved for initiation or continuation. In order to qualify for exemption, a research study cannot place subjects at greater than minimal risk and must fall entirely within one or more of the following six (6) categories for exemption.

The researcher is:

  1. Using existing data that is publicly available,
  2. Using existing data from which the investigator records data in such a way that subjects cannot be identified with appropriate collection, storage, and disposal protocols in place to maintain confidentiality,
  3. Conducting research using educational tests,
  4. Utilizing surveys exclusively,
  5. Utilizing interview procedures or observation of public behavior, or
  6. Collecting data only from public officials or political candidates regarding their office.

These exemptions will not be granted if (1) subjects are identified in, or identifiable from, the data collected; AND (2) any disclosure of subjects' responses could place subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to subjects' financial standing, employability or reputation.

Researchers who are uncertain of whether their research is exempt should seek clarification from the IRB representative for their College/School. Protocols that have been granted exemption from NWOSU IRB Review may still be subjected to review mandated by study sites, schools, or collaborating institutions.

If the research involves prisoners, then it does not qualify for exemption from federal regulations and IRB review.

What Exemption Means: "Exemption" as used in this document means exemption from the requirements set forth in Regulations for the Protection of Human Subjects (Title 45 Part 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations), such as the requirement for a written informed consent document. At NWOSU, determinations of exemption are made by the IRB.

What Exemption Does Not Mean: "Exemption" does not mean that the research activity is exempt from the laws of the state of Oklahoma, and it does not mean that the research need not conform to the canons of sound research ethics.

Exempt reviews may be approved by any one member of the IRB Committee, usually the Director of Sponsored Programs.  For additional information regarding Exempt Review categories, see OHRP Decision Charts #2-7 for Exempt Categories.

Expedited Review

Expedited review is a procedure through which certain kinds of research may be reviewed and approved by three (3) IRB members rather than the full IRB. Expedited reviews will be conducted by the Office of Sponsored Programs director and two (2) designated members of the IRB.

A list of categories of research has been established in the Federal Register that may be reviewed by the IRB through an expedited review procedure. An IRB may use the expedited review procedure to review either or both of the following:

Some or all of the research appearing on the list of categories of research (established in the Federal Register) and found by the reviewer(s) to involve no more than minimal risk.

Minor changes in previously approved research during the period (of one year or less) for which approval is authorized.

Criteria: The following criteria must be met in order for research to be considered for expedited review:

The research activities must present no more than minimal risk to human subjects. Minimal risk means that the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater in and of themselves than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests.

All of the research activities involve only procedures listed in one or more of the research categories established in the Federal Register. The categories in this list apply regardless of the age of subjects, except as noted. Categories one (1) through (7) pertain to both initial and continuing IRB review.

Full Review

Proposals requiring full committee review may fall under one or more of the following criteria:

  • Involve data collected from protected populations (e.g., children or adolescents, inmates, pregnant women) or other socially or politically vulnerable groups
  • Involve some form of manipulation of research participants
  • Allow for potential identification of participants 
  • Assess issues of a sensitive nature (e.g., sexual behavior, mental illness) or illicit/illegal activities (e.g., drug abuse, binge drinking)

As with other review types, the IRB collaborates via a Shared Folder to review all proposals falling in this category. A majority vote of the six members of the full review committee is required for proposal approval. If modifications to the proposal are required, which is quite common, investigators will be notified of the changes to be made. A final approval email will be sent out by the Office of Sponsored Programs once the proposal has been updated and reviewed by an appointed IRB member.

Because in-person meetings are not feasible for full IRB reviews, all IRB members will have an “IRB Reviews Shared Folder” on their desktop. The Office of Sponsored Programs will work with the IT department to make sure the folder is available to all on-campus IRB members. The non-campus affiliation member will receive the documents for review by email from Sponsored Programs.

When a full review is needed, the Director of Sponsored Programs will notify the IRB by email. The email will include the file name that needs to be reviewed.

IRB members will provide their feedback and save the document. Make sure the file is saved in the Shared Folder.

The Office of Sponsored Programs will request any required edits from the PI (Principal Investigator) and submit changes to the Shared Folder.

No action is needed by members in regards to the Shared Folder unless notified by Sponsored Programs.

The final document will be changed from a Word Document to PDF format. Once each IRB member approves the research, he or she will place a check by their name, sign, date, and save the document.

Note: Once a PDF document has been signed, existing signatures and comments cannot be edited.

The approved documents will be filed in the Office of Sponsored Programs.

The designated IRB members will follow the same protocol for Expedited reviews. 

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