University of Massachusetts Amherst

Institutional Review Board

Instructions for Submission of New Research Proposals to the IRB for Review

Faculty, staff and students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst proposing research that involves intervention or interaction with individuals, or involves obtaining information about individuals, must seek human subjects approval.

All funded research is approved through the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Research projects that are not funded may seek approval through the local review board. Please refer to the listing of Local Review Boards to determine if there is one within your discipline. Those disciplines without a local review board may submit their application materials to the IRB.

Students please note that application materials submitted to the IRB must be submitted by your faculty sponsor or staff sponsor who will act as the Principal Investigator (PI). PI's will be responsible for the oversight of the project and will be required, along with all key personnel, to complete the on-line training.

The following information includes all forms and instructions needed for an IRB application for research with human subjects.

• Form 441
• Abstract
• Certificates of human subjects training for PI and all key personnel
• Informed Consent Form (one of the following):
  • Consent Form Template
    • Instructions for Informed Consent
  • No, or Low-Risk, Informed Consent Template
  • "Informed Consent" Cover Letter for Survey
  • Assent Samples (for children ages 7 to 17)
• Supporting documentation (questionnaires, survey instruments, etc.)
• Description of Research Project. (Copies of projects/grants submitted through OGCA are already on file with the Human Subjects Office)
• Recruitment Materials (recruitment procedures and copies of advertisement)

Please send one copy of all complete application materials to:

Nancy Swett
Human Research Protection Office (HRPO)
108 Research Administration Building
70 Butterfield Terrace
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003-9242

Following the review, the principal investigator (PI) will receive written notification.

If you have any questions, please call Margaret Burggren at 413-545-3428 or email humansubjects@ora.umass.edu.

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