Institutional Review Board (IRB) Home

RSP Statement to Researchers at UNI during the COVID-19 Pandemic - (updated 7/29/20)

Please visit the UNI Forward Together website for current information related to the University's plans to resume on-campus instruction and operations. RSP will be providing information and guidance related to the IRB, sponsored program implementation, and laboratory and research facility operations in early August, 2020.

If you are wondering how to begin or resume a research project involving human subjects, especially if in-person research is planned, please contact Todd Evans, UNI IRB Chair, at todd.evans@uni.edu or 319-273-6152.

If you have questions about your sponsored project and how the resumption of on-campus activities might impact a current or future project, please contact Tolif Hunt, Director of RSP, at tolif.hunt@uni.edu or 319-273-3025. 

Helpful hint: Always remember that when implementing any sponsored project, the rules and regulations of the University always take precedence over any other rules, unless the rule(s) are more strict than those of UNI.

Resuming Face-to-Face (F2F) Research - (effective 8/3/20)

Although all researchers are asked to continue remote/virtual data collection, starting Monday, August 3, 2020, F2F is permissible with IRB approval. If you had a protocol approved by the IRB prior to March 13th and you would like to resume F2F data collection, please consult the following flow chart for more information:

• Resuming F2F Research Flow Chart (PDF) ​

  • Important Note: As resuming F2F data collection or changing to remote/virtual data collection would be considered a study modification, this request must be sent to Todd Evans, UNI IRB Chair at todd.evans@uni.edu for review and approval before being implemented. 

Information about new protocols and other important considerations will be posted in the near future. As this continues to be a fluid situation, please check the website frequently.

Operational Guidelines for Researchers

The university will return to normal operations on Monday, August 3, 2020. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as other federal and state agencies, UNI has developed specific guidelines for operations. 

Research labs and studios need to follow UNI protocols, including wearing face coverings and reducing the capacity in the lab. Researchers and artists should do remote work, as much as possible. Researchers and artists should postpone high exposure risk studies, projects, and tasks until further notice. Please consult the following documents and links for current guidance for conducting operations. Important Note: this guidance applies primarily for 220, 225, 250 and 255 spaces, but may also apply to 210 and 215 spaces on campus.

• Operational Guidelines - Research Labs and Studios (DOC) - This document provide an outline of current guidance as well as considerations and procedures for conducting operations in research labs and studios. 

• Room Assessment - Labs and Studios (DOC) - A COVID-19 procedures template, this document is intended to help guide faculty/staff as they plan to re-open classrooms, labs, workspaces, etc and may be used for documentation purposes. Note: this is NOT intended to be an all-inclusive list. 

• Department Space Allocation - A university report that provides a general inventory of facilities space assigned to campus departments.

• Classroom Floor Plans - Includes downloadable PDFs of campus wide classroom and lab space layouts.

Preparing for Future Disruptions

Researchers should consider the possibility that this disruption to campus activities may continue for months to come and make contingency plans accordingly. In addition, preparations and a contingency plan must be developed in the event that the campus is ordered to shut down entirely, where no one other than critical personnel are allowed to physically go on campus. These guidelines are being offered to assist you in developing and implementing plans for both circumstances. In the event of a campus shutdown, recommendations in the above guidance document (things that “should” be done) will become requirements.

All faculty and staff should also immediately begin contingency planning to prepare for curtailing all but the most essential on-campus research and creative activities over a longer term. Three forms have been developed for use by lead researchers and/or lab managers:

• Lab Shutdown Checklist (EXCEL) – An optional checklist to assist you in preparing to shut down as well as in actually implementing a shut-down plan.

• Research-Lab Continuity Request Form (DOC) – All faculty/researchers who will need on campus access to their laboratories (e.g., in order to maintain critical research materials or care for animals), must submit the Research/Lab Continuity Request Form to their department head and dean.

• Lone Worker Guidelines for Laboratory Personnel (DOC) – Risk Management in collaboration with the Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation created this guidance document to assist individuals in developing appropriate procedures when finding themselves working alone in laboratories in pursuit of research.

Retirement - Anita Gordon, Director of Research Ethics/IRB Administrator - (effective 7/1/20)

RSP is currently under transition to a new Director of Research Ethics/IRB Administrator. Until this transition period has completed, please contact the staff below for the following inquiries:

• IRB (Institutional Review Board) - For questions, inquiries, modification requests, and other issues regarding the IRB, please contact IRB Chair Todd Evans - todd.evans@uni.edu.

• IRB Submissions & Training - To submit new study applications (including Standard and Existing Data applications, K-12 and Oral History forms) or for questions about IRB training, please contact Sean Parrish (Clerk IV) - sean.parrish@uni.edu.

• IACUC (Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee) - For all questions about animal care on campus and/or the IACUC, please contact IACUC Chair David McClenahan - david.mclenahan@uni.edu.

• RIO (Research Integrity Officer) - To report questionable research practices or incidences of observed or suspected misconduct, please contact the UNI RIO, Associate VP of Research Jennifer Waldron - jennifer.waldron@uni.edu.

• Other -  For all other questions on any topic not covered above, please contact the Director of RSP Tolif Hunt - tolif.hunt@uni.edu.

Information about the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Protections for Human Research Participants

IRB Training

IRB Forms and Samples

IRB Members

IRB Meeting Schedule

IRB Policies and Procedures - Updated January, 2017

I. Administration

Background and Principles
Governmental Oversight and Regulations
IRB Scope and Authority
Noncompliance
Roles and Responsibilities (Institution and IRB)
Board Composition
IRB Meetings

II. IRB Review Process and Considerations

III. After Approval

Continuing Review and Project Closure
Study Modifications
Reporting Problems

General Questions

You have submitted your IRB Application. What happens next? (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions

Resources for Researchers

Questions concerning processing of IRB protocols or research projects involving human subjects should be directed to the IRB Chair Todd Evans, todd.evans@uni.edu.