Institutional Review Board (IRB)

All research activities involving human subjects conducted by faculty, staff, or students at the University of Central Arkansas are under the review and approval jurisdiction of the Institutional Review Board (IRB). This includes research development, preliminary investigation, pilot studies, testing and evaluation, interviews, observation, and surveys designed to contribute to generalizable knowledge.

In addition, all research involving University of Central Arkansas students, faculty, or staff conducted by an outside party is under the review and approval jurisdiction of UCA’s IRB. It is the responsibility of the principal investigator to submit proposed research for approval in a timely manner and before recruiting subjects or collecting data.

The IRB has the responsibility and authority to perform the following actions:

• Approve, disapprove, or modify the research protocol as it pertains to human subjects.
• Conduct continuing review of research.
• Observe /verify changes.
• Suspend or terminate approval.

The main function of the IRB review is to assure that...

• Risks are minimized and are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits.
• There is informed consent.
• Rights and welfare of subjects are maintained.
• Research complies with federal and state laws and requirements.

Ethical principles guiding the IRB review are based on the 1979 Belmont Report. This report sets forth three basic principles for conducting research involving human subjects as follows:

• Respect for persons involves a recognition of the personal dignity and autonomy of individuals, and special protection of those persons with diminished autonomy.
• Beneficence entails an obligation to protect persons from harm by maximizing anticipated benefits and minimizing possible risks of harm.
• Justice requires that the benefits and burdens of research be distributed fairly.

2012-2013 Convened Meetings

Required Education

Federal regulations require education in human subject protections for all investigators and key research personnel before research may be conducted. Education must be re-taken every three (3) years.

NOTE:  If your research project qualifies for Exemption Review, you do not have to complete the required education.

The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) course site provides research ethics instruction in various aspects of the responsible conduct of research (RCR) including human subjects protection, health information privacy and security, laboratory animal welfare, research misconduct, data management, authorship, peer review, conflict of interest, mentoring and collaborative science.

Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

IRB CITI Instructions for New Users

IRB CITI Basic Instructions for RCR

Application Forms and Templates

****NOTE:  When filling out forms in PDF format please open with Adobe Reader.

All IRB documents are date stamped and logged into a database when received in the SPO office. Due to the time sensitive nature of IRB documents, please hand deliver to a SPO staff member all documents related to IRB. We can not assume responsibility for documents not hand delivered, or documents not received by a SPO staff member.

IRB Informed Consent Cover Letter Template

IRB Informed Consent Agreement Template

IRB Assent/Assent Script Template for Minors

IRB Application Checklist

IRB Application for Exempted Review

IRB Application for Expedited Review

IRB Application for Full Review

IRB Application for Continuing Review

IRB Final Report for Research

IRB Parent/Guardian Permission