Human Subjects Submissions
Research studies conducted by students and faculty within the School of Public Health and Health Sciences for human studies that are not funded through external grants and that pose minimal risk to the subjects involved may be reviewed by the “local” School of Public Health and Health Sciences Human Subjects Review Committee rather than by the University Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Submissions to the local SPHHS Human Subjects Review Committee should be made to:
Dr. Susan Sturgeon
407 Arnold House
Phone: 413-577-1364
Email: ssturgeon@schoolph.umass.edu
Please expect the review to take 2-4 weeks, although many are reviewed much quicker. Please contact Dr. Sturgeon with questions about your submission or if you have any questions regarding review board guidelines.
Note: If you are submitting more than 1 protocol at the same time, please be sure that each protocol is completed by itself, submitted in duplicate, and that the materials for each protocol are clipped together to avoid confusion.
Information Required with Each Protocol Submission
Although the University Human Subjects Committee has transitioned to online submissions, the SPHHS Committee has not. Please submit TWO hard copies of all documents listed below including the checklist:
• HSR Checklist. Available in the "Downloads" section of this page.
• Completed Human Subjects Approval Form. See the sample "Social and Behavioral Research" and "Biomedical Research" e-protocols available in the "Downloads" section of this page.
• Abstract. Supply a 1-page summary of the study’s purpose and research methods.
• Certificates of appropriate human subjects training for the Principal Investigator and all key personnel. Visit the Research & Engagement website for Information on how to complete Human Subjects CITI Online Training.
• Informed Consent document. This document should be written in simple, straightforward language aimed at about an 8th-grade reading level. Avoid jargon and define all technical terms. Instructions and templates for Informed Consent documents can be found on the Research & Engagement website. Please substitute “SPHHS Local Human Subjects Review Board” for “UMass IRB” in the sentence on the template indicating that the protocol has been approved. (You may retain the general UMass contact information.) Depending on your research project, you also may need to include an Informed Consent Cover Letter for Survey and/or Assent Samples (for children ages 7 to 17).
• Supporting documentation. Include copies of all questionnaires and survey instruments that will be used in your study.
• Recruitment materials. Supply a one-paragraph description of recruitment procedures along with copies of advertisements and flyers that will be used to identify participants.
• Contact Information. Please include contact information (phone, email & office addresses) of all PIs, including student investigators and faculty advisors.
