Institutional Review Board (IRB) 

 

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT regarding research with minors involving online surveys:

The MTSU IRB is currently reviewing requests to administer online surveys to minors only through the full committee review.  Also, please be advised that the IRB is currently reviewing a policy procedure in compliance with Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA - 1998). Approvals to allow such interventions are granted only on a case-by-case manner.  Importantly, requests to waive parental consent for studies conducted through online means are not entertained until further notice.  

 

General Announcments:

  • Allow a minimum of 4 business days BEFORE you call us regarding the status of your petition
  • Please allow at least 2 weeks for protocols to be reviewed AFTER your application is complete
  • During the months of September-October and February-March, expect a minimum processing time of 3 weeks

 

IRB Seal2 

 

MTSU Human Research Protection Program

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at MTSU is an appointed  committee which oversee any research projects that involve human participants. The aim of the IRB is to protect the rights and welfare of the research subjects.  No research study that involves collection of data through interaction or intervention with living individuals may begin at MTSU without the consent of its IRB.  The links on this page are designed to guide researchers through the process of seeking approval for protocols that involve the collection of data by enrolling living human subjects. Please refer to the FAQ for general IRB-related questions.

 

Click here to watch an OHRP video on the IRB Membership

 

Federal Wide Assurance (FWA)

The FWA is a contract or agreement that establishes standards for human subjects research as approved by the Office for Human Research Protections ("OHRP"). It is the policy of the Institutional Review Board ("IRB") of Middle Tennessee State University to uphold its Assurance as filed with the OHRP.
  • FWA number - 00005331 (Expiration 01/12/2022)
  • IRB Registration number - IRB00003571 (Expiration 02.08.2020)
  • IORG number - 0002962
  • OBM number - 0990-0279 (Expiration 10/31/2018)
  • ORI* number - 1274605

*ORI - Office of Research Integrity (Not part of OHRP) oversees misconduct in research but not human subjects protocols.

 

Visit the Decision Guide for answers to questions such as:

  • What is "research" as defined by OHRP?
  • Does my research involve Human Subjects?
  • Should I apply for Exempt, Expedited or Full committee review?
    • Please note that "exempt" does not refer to an exemption from IRB oversight; it merely designates certain types of activities and interventions considered to pose less than minimal risk to the participants as exempt from continuing IRB review.  But, all of the regulatory requirements are same.
    • Also note that "expedited" does not refer to a swifter review process; it merely designates certain types of activities or interventions as minimal risk and they can be reviewed and approved through a member review process that does not require a full committee decision.  

The Online Training page will link researchers to a site where they can undergo training to obtain certification for conducting research involving human subjects. The IRB Forms page allows access to download the most current applications, final/progress reports, templates for consent forms, and other important documents.

Inquiring General Information

Submission Policy Changes

  • The Office of Compliance accepts only electronically filled documents
  • An MTSU Faculty member MUST email the application documents to irb_submissions@mtsu.edu
  • THE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE WILL NO LONGER RECEIVE APPLICATIONS FROM STUDENTS.  Student researchers must have their faculty advisor or class coordinator email the application documents. Check out the Students page. 
  • Ensure all necessary boxes are completed as accurately as possible.  Incomplete applications will be sent back to the investigators and will not be reviewed until the application documents are complete.  
  • Those who qualify for full review must check the committee schedule and should allow more time for  the approval process.  The committee requires at least 2 (TWO) weeks to review the application before bringing the study for a vote at a convened meeting.  

Informative Videos

The following links are videos from the OHRP to further educate researchers on the necessity of ethics in human subject research specifically pertaining to the protection of human subjects.:

Report Compliance Breach and Adverse Events Immediately

If you need to report a study related injury, or if you have concerns about a research project, please contact the Office of Compliance by emailing to  compliance@mtsu.edu or call 615 898 2400. ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE WILL BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

Email questions to:                                 Send applications and documents to:

irb_information@mtsu.edu                      irb_submissions@mtsu.edu

 

 

Office of Compliance                                                              QUICK LINKS
2269 Middle TN Blvd                                                                           IACUC Home
Sam H. Ingram Bldg (ING) Room 010                                                Information for Investigators - FAQ 
Box 124 (Previously 134)                                                                   Preparing for IRB approval 
Murfreesboro, TN 37132                                                                     Types of IRB reviews
Tel: 615 898 2400 | FAX: 615 898 5028                                              Review guidelines
Email: irb_information@mtsu.edu