The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of William Carey University (WCU) has been formally designated to approve and monitor research investigations involving human subjects in accordance with Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 46, and the Belmont Report of 1979. The IRB reviews research protocols and related materials in order to ensure research investigations are conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of autonomy (right to choose), nonmaleficence (do no harm), justice (right to privacy and dignity), as well as the standards set forth in the Mission of the University. 

Investigators may not solicit subject participation OR begin data collection until they have received approval from the IRB.

Before soliciting participation or collecting data, IRB approval must be obtained.  See the application page for more information.

Submit a Protocol Application to the IRB

The first step in the IRB approval process is to obtain the necessary training in the protection of human subjects. All faculty, students, and staff who have contact with human research subjects or human subject research data must receive online education.

The online education program utilized at William Carey University is the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Human Subjects Research Educational Program. Directions for CITI registration can be found here. 

Those submitting an IRB protocol must first complete training in Human Subjects Research. Two CITI courses are required: Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and either the Basic and Human Subjects Research training for Clinical and Biomedical Researchers or Social Behavioral Educational Researchers. 

Additional information regarding research training and requirements is available on the CITI Training page.

Although IRB applications can be submitted for review anytime, applications requiring full-board review are to be submitted by the appropriate deadlines to be reviewed by the next IRB meeting.

Please note that even research conducted by students is subject to review.