IRB Protection of Human Subjects - The University of Tulsa

IRB Protection of Human Subjects

Recent TU Research Community Notices

For more details about the changes that went into effect on January 21, 2019, please see 2018 Common Rules and Regulations.

Removal of COVID-19 In-Person Human Subject Restrictions

As a reminder, effective August 2021, The University of Tulsa determined that human subjects research could return to previous in-person procedures.   Hence, the revised TU procedures for in-person human subjects research enacted due to COVID-19 are no longer required.

If you modified your protocol (expedited or full board) to incorporate required  COVID-19 procedures and want to revert to previous procedures, please contact Debbie Newton at 631-2192  or researchcompliance@utulsa.edu to determine what paperwork may need to be filed (e.g., previous consents may have expired).  The IRB goal is to minimize work for PIs but assure compliance.

Please note that while the IRB COVID-19 procedures have been removed, human subjects that visit campus will still have to follow any local or institutional COVID-related policies in effect at the time of their visit.

TU Human Subjects Research

The use of human participants in research is extremely important to the development of new knowledge in many areas. However, careful attention must be given to the questions of ethics and human dignity whenever human subjects participate in research.

It is the policy of The University of Tulsa to require that all research activities by faculty, staff and students involving human participants follow the procedures and guidelines established by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at The University of Tulsa as well as those established by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP). Regardless of the nature or degree of risk anticipated, the applicant must present in writing, and be prepared to defend in person before the IRB, detailed information on the following points:

  1. The possible risks to the rights and welfare of human subjects, including the rights of privacy, freedom from undue harassment, and confidentiality of data; a description of the provisions made to minimize these risks must be provided.
  2. Methods used to acquire informed consent, with special emphasis on their appropriateness to the particular situation inherent in the study plan.
  3. The relative risks and benefits of the project.

The Institutional Review Board is composed of faculty, staff and lay members (both scholars and non-scholars) who are trained in the importance of academic freedom, the protection of the rights and welfare of human research participants, federal regulations about research ethics, and the ethical regulations of various funding agencies.

Student, faculty and staff are encouraged to contact the Coordinator of Research Compliance to receive help with the Human Subjects research issues and the IRB components of their research.

Upcoming TU IRB Meeting Dates

  • Monday, February 27, 2023
  • Monday, March 27, 2023
  • Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Although the TU IRB posts the meeting dates for each current semester, meeting dates/times are subject to change. If you would like to confirm a meeting date/time, please contact  researchcompliance@utulsa.edu, 918-631-3310.

Mandatory IRB Training

TU IRB Policies and Procedures

TU IRB General Application Forms

TU IRB Guidance and Reference Materials

TU IRB Informed Consent Form Options

TU IRB Payments to Human Subjects Forms

TU Student Course-Related Research Guidelines

Classroom projects that meet ALL the criteria for “Student Course-Related Research Projects”, need not undergo review by the IRB; however, instructors and students are encouraged to follow federal and university regulations when designing and conducting class projects with human participants. *Students and their Faculty Mentors are encouraged to complete the CITI Training course, “Students – Classroom Projects.”

To determine if a project is a “Student Course-Related Research Project” please see The University of Tulsa IRB policy:

Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) Project Guidelines

Projects that meet the criteria of Quality Assurance/ Quality Improvement (QA/QI), need to submit the completed TU QA/QI Form to the TU IRB Office for review and confirm that no IRB review is needed.

*Students and their Faculty Mentor conducting a QA/QI project are required to complete the CITI Training course, “Students -Classroom Projects”.

To determine if a project meets the QA/QI criteria, please see the guidance materials below.

If in doubt or for additional information, please contact the researchcompliance@utulsa.edu or 918-631-3310 for consultation.

Other Reference Links

Office of Human Subjects Protections FAQs

Clinical Trials Information

Definition of a clinical trial: a research study designed to test the safety and/or effectiveness of drugs, devices, treatments, or preventive measures in humans

Who is required to register on clinical trials.gov? Registration is required by law, Section 113 of the FDA Modernization Act mandates registration with ClinicalTrials.gov of investigational new drug efficacy trials for serious diseases or conditions and is also required by The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) as a condition for publication of research results generated by a clinical trial. Other journals may follow these guidelines as well. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is committed to providing information to increase public awareness and access to clinical trials sponsored federally and by industry foundations.

Contact: researchcompliance@utulsa.edu, 918-631-3310