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University Newsletter

Important Update: Consolidation of IRB Protocol Forms and Reminder of Faculty/EAP Responsibilities

Effective this semester, all IRB protocol review forms have been consolidated to one form: the Application for Review of Research Involving Human Subjects. This application replaces Forms A, B, C, and I. Each section within the Application has hyperlinks embedded in the section heading that will guide investigators to the newly created Protocol Submission Guide and Tutorial. Please visit the IRB Website to access the new application and the submission guide. If you have already started to compile a protocol using the previous version of the forms, it will be accepted for review.

While the Protocol Submission Guide and Tutorial contains expanded guidance, it is not a substitute for direct instruction or Faculty/EAP sponsorship. As a reminder, the role of a Faculty/EAP Sponsor is to advise and support student researchers as they complete and submit unique, original applications for review and approval prior to the initiation of research. The Sponsor must not complete any or all components of a protocol on behalf of the PI, but rather guide the PI to complete their own protocol in accordance with IRB regulations. The Sponsor must ensure the student researcher understands the ethical standards described in the Belmont Report, federal regulations, and EIU policy, and verify the protocol is in alignment with those standards. The commitment to guide EIU's student researchers is valuable and very much appreciated. 

Thank you for your cooperation with the implementation of this updated IRB protocol process. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at (217) 581-2125 or eiuirb@eiu.edu.