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Education Science IRB - FAQ
- Where can I get help with my education science research project?
- Email Renee Celeste, Program Director, Education Science, at RTCeleste@mdanderson.org
- Do I need IRB review if I’m just evaluating my program?
- IRB review is recommended if you intend to share results at a conference or in a manuscript.
- Do I have to do any type of IRB training to conduct research?
- Yes. All investigators and key personnel who participate in the design, conduct, or reporting of human subjects’ research (including exempt research) must be appropriately trained in the protection of human subjects. If the training is not completed, you will not be able to conduct Human Subject research at MD Anderson. The training can be found at this link. Email researcheducation@mdanderson.org for help with registration if needed. There is also additional required training by Institutional Compliance for all researchers at MD Anderson Research Foundations.
- Where do I submit my protocol after I secure the pre-review by the Education Science Team?
- Use the ePRTCL platform to submit your protocol. In order to have a study be review-ready, certain documents are required to be submitted to begin the review process. A timely submission will ensure the protocol moves through the approval process with-out delay. A complete ePRTCL submission, including protocol, informed consent, and a completed smart form. For any questions regarding ePRTCL, please email PRTCL Help Desk at ePRTCL@mdanderson.org
- Is there a template I can use to create my protocol?
- What does the IRB look for in a protocol?
- The IRB considers whether participatants are adequately informed about the research and its possible risks, and whether the risks and benefits of a study are acceptable and managed appropriately.
- Can IRB approval be obtained retroactively?
- No. IRB approval must be obtained prior to conducting your study. Research conducted without IRB approval can not be used as the basis for a publication.
- What is expedited review?
- Expedited review is a procedure through which a protocol may be quickly reviewed and approved without convening a meeting of the entire IRB group. It may be carried out by the IRB chairperson or by one or more experienced IRB members.
- Expedited review is only possible if the proposed research involves no more than minimal risk.
- Expedited review may also be used to review minor changes made to previously approved research.
- What is an informed consent document?
- The informed consent document gives potential participants the information they need to understand what they are volunteering for. It tells them when/where/how the study will be conducted, what its purpose is, what the possible risks are, and much more.
- Where do you mention IRB approval in your manuscript?
- This information should be clearly stated in your Method and/or the Ethics Declaration sections.
- Some journals request a standard statement while others require more detail (board name and approval number)
- Why do I need to go through an IRB?
- IRB approval ensures the protection of human participants in a research study. Any institution that receives federal funding to conduct research with human participants is required to establish an IRB and to review and approve studies prior to collection of research data.
- Many journals require authors who describe research involving human subjects to obtain approval (or review and waiver) from their IRB prior to manuscript submission.
- How do I know if I need to go through an IRB?
- If you're doing research with human participants, you need to obtain approval from the IRB.
- What is considered to be a "human participant?"
- A human participant 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 about that individual
- What is considered to be "research?"
- Research is defined as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.
- What is considered to be an "intervention?"
- Interaction includes any communication or interpersonal contact between the researcher and subject.
