This page is expected to provide a description on how a researcher can obtain approval under the Full Member Review mechanism. Be advised that several of the procedures, requirements, documentation and formalities between the Expedited and a Full Review process are very similar. The most important difference between the expedited and the full member review mechanism is that the application and the associated documents will be reviewed by the entire committee. In addition, the decision to approve, deny or to suggest modifications would be made at a convened IRB meeting where proper quorum is met. Once the review is completed, all communications will be made by the Chair of the IRB. Moreover, the researchers may be invited to the IRB meeting to directly address the Committee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visit https:\/\/mtsu.edu\/irb\/forms<\/a> to download IRB Forms and Templates<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n The Office of Research Compliance now follows an updated process by which documents are received for IRB review. The following two email accounts are designited to correspond with the researchers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please click here<\/a> for an overview the most recent\u00a0document submission process<\/p>\n\n\n\n The application and the supporting documents will be administratively pre-reviewed for completeness. Incomplete applications will be sent back to the researcher(s) without any administrative action. Complete applications will be assigned a new IRB ID which will resemble ##-3###. The researchers will be corresponded by email if further information is needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Subsequently to the administrative actions, the application materials will be forwarded to two IRB reviewers as appointed by the Chair of the Committee. After their preliminary review, the comments and concerns raised by these two committee members will be forwarded to the entire committee along with the application materials. Additional concerns from the full committee will be collated by the Office of Research Compliance and they will be forwarded to the Chair. Then, the Chair will correspond with the researchers and notify them if they should address any concerns that would help the Committee to make a determination in their upcoming convened meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The IRB Chair in cooperation with the Office of Research Compliance will make every effort to designate the two primary reviewers such that they have the necessary working knowledge on the subject matter of the application. If needed and when necessary, the IRB will also consult outside experts should there be no expertise within the Committee to review a certain protocol. The researchers should nonetheless prepare their application in simple language such that any reviewer with a different field of expertise would also be able to make a meaningful judgement. Once the researchers receive the initial concerns from the IRB Chair, they can either address the concerns, or they can wait to discuss the reviewer comments directly with the Committee at the upcoming convened meeting. The investigators may decide to do both; they can address the concerns and elect to be present at the meeting. The Office of Research Compliance encourages the researchers to directly address the Committee to open a free line of conversation and demonstrate their committment to compliance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The researchers will receive an Expedited Approval Notice from the Reviewer or the Office of Research Compliance. It is important that the researchers store the document in a safe location along with their study-related documents. The approval notice should be sent to appropriate funding agency by the researcher. Each protocol approved under the expedited mechanism can be kept active for up to three (3) years. However, the PI or the faculty advisor (if the PI is a student) has to submit a Continuing Review three (3) weeks prior to the annual expiration date noted in the approval notice. Expired protocols cannot be renewed or continued. Therefore it is vital that the researchers obtain approval for continuation prior to the expiration date. A protocol can be continued twice and after the third year a new application needs to be submitted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The applicant of the protocol or the faculty advisor (if the applicant is a student) must assume full responsibility that the study will be conducted in the guidelines listed by the research team in the protocol. Any alteration to the protocol can be done only after obtaining written approval from the IRb or the Office of Research Compliance. Starting from August, 2015, major changes to the procedures and the instruments will not be allowed and the researchers will be directed to complete a new application. The following are a few procedures and obligations for the researchers in order to keep the protocol active. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The PI or the faculty advisor (if the PI is a student) has to take responsibility of the data collected during the study. All confidential materials need to be secured as proposed in their application. The researchers have to notify the Office of Research Compliance if there are any breaches or any change of storage location is anticipated. A suitable course of action would be determined upon the researchers’ notification. It is mandatory that the researchers store the data in a secure place for up to three (3) years after the study has ended. After this storage time, the investigators MAY destroy the data such that the confidentiality will not be lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Minor protocol amendments, like fixing errors in language, adding\/removing student workers, increase\/decrease of sample size, and other non-procedural changes can be done by submitting a “Minor Revisions Form” along with other documents to be changed (like informed consent, recruitment scripts, etc). Please contact the office of Research Compliance (irb_information@mtsu.edu<\/a>) for additional information on creating addendum requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of Minor Amendments:\u00a0 <\/strong>Addition\/removal of investigators, small extensions of participant number and correcting typographical errors to the previously approved documents. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of Major or Significant Amendments: <\/strong>Addition of a new location for conducting the research activity, minor changes to the instruments, amendments to the informed consent, procedural changes and etc.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n An existing protocol reviewed by the full committee can be closed at any time by filing a final report<\/a>. \u00a0The investigators however should remember that the data collected during the protocol period must be stored in a secure location for up to three (3) years after the final report has been approved. \u00a0The data and the location may be subject to OHRP audit any time during this period. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n All adverse events, such as study-related injuries to the participants and other types of harms that may have happened to the human subjects need to be reported to the Offfice of Research Compliance within 48 hours by emailing compliance@mtsu.edu<\/a>. Other adverse events could include compliance breaches or inadvertant\/intentional deviations in the protocol should also be reported. Any event that could potentially place the participant at risk will be deemed as “adverse” and MUST be reported. Subsequent to notifying compliance@mtsu.edu<\/a> by email,, the researcher MUST submit an Adverse Event Form by providing specifics on the event and what course of action was taken to mitigate the risk(s). The “Adverse Event Form” needs to be completed and submitted within seven (7) days of the event to irb_submissions@mtsu.edu<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All addition and removal of investigators should be reported to the Office of Research Compliance prior to commencing research. The PI or the faculty advisor (if the PI is a student) should submit an Addendum Request to initiate the addition\/removal of investigators. Additionally, the new investigator who will be added to the protocol should have completed proper CITI training at the time of the request. Data collected by an individual who is not included in the protocol would not be permissible and may lead to the cancellation of the protocol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Typically, IRB approvals for expedited and full member review mechanisms are given for up to one year. At the end of the first year, the investigators can either opt to close the study or to continue the protocol for an additional year. If they choose to close the study, then they will follow the process described above on how to submit a final report. If they wish to continue the study, then they have to submit a request for Continuing Review. The application for a continuing review should be received by the Office of Research Compliance at least three (3) weeks before the date of initial expiration in order to process the extension in a timely fashion. A continuing review request may be submitted twice for the life of a protocol. After three years, the protocol will automatically expire and a new application needs to be filed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Denial of Approval<\/strong> – A protocol may be denied approval due to either noncompliance or the proposed study may not qualify to be reviewed under the expedited mechanism. In both cases, the IRB in cooperation with the Office of Research Compliance will make every effort to help the researchers to address the compliance concerns and possibly resubmit the proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deferral<\/strong>\u00a0– A protocol deferred by the MTSU IRB cannot be resubmitted or be approved for human participation. \u00a0The IRB has determined that the study is non-compliant and it poses high risk that it cannot be approved. \u00a0Be advised that the protocols deferred by the IRB cannot be overturned by any other agencies or individuals within MTSU. \u00a0Be aware that involving MTSU Administration or ranking officials to influence an IRB approval process is a violation of University’s Federal-Wide Assurance and PHS policies governing human subject research. \u00a0By law, the OHRP mandates\u00a0that Institutions and Universities to allow\u00a0the IRB to act independent and the MTSU offers its fullest support to the Committee. \u00a0Under no circumstances will an MTSU official interfere with the review or approval process of a protocol. \u00a0Moreover, it also needs to be emphasized that the MTSU Institutional Officials reserve the right to cancel a protocol that has been approved by the IRB. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This page is expected to provide a description on how a researcher can obtain approval under the Full Member Review mechanism. Be advised that several of the procedures, requirements, documentation and formalities between the Expedited and a Full Review process are very similar. 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Other Essential Documents to be submitted with the application<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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All mandatory and other essential documents must be emailed to irb_submissions@mtsu.edu<\/a> with a suitable subject line.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The IRB and the Office of Research Compliance may\u00a0require other types of documents not mentioned above.<\/h2>
Document Submission<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Review Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Administrative Actions (PRE-REVIEW):<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Full Committee Review:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Investigator Options:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Convened Meeting:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Potential Outcomes and Possible Actions:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Protocol Approval<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Post-Approval Procedures & Responsibilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Data Storage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Amendments to Existing Protocols<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Closing a Protocol<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
>> Adverse Event Notification <<<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Investigator Change Notification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Progress Report and Continuing Review Request<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A PROTOCOL WILL NOT BE EXTENDED ONCE IT EXPIRES. <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Other Actions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n