Re: Dept Chair Signature on IRB Applications Robert Beattie 24 Aug 2007 15:42 EST
Would not the same issues arise for Chairs reviewing grant/contract applications. If there were a faculty member, perhaps hired prior to the Chair, who was doing research in a paradigm not favored by the Chair, could that Chair not "sign off" on the application. I assume a chair will hire people whose work is acceptable. How is this problem managed? Is there an appeal process? Everything that applies to IRB approvals applies to Proposal applications and this is perhaps a bigger issue. Bob xxxxxx@umich.edu On Aug 24, 2007, at 4:18 PM, Barbara Gray wrote: All, Our IRB is having a big debate about Department Chairs signing off on IRB applications. IRB members are concerned about academic freedom issues (e.g., a Chair refusing to sign an application because he/she has some personal or moral issue with the nature of the research). Our Chairs indicate that they want to see these applications but seem mostly concerned with resource issues…are there funds and personnel time to do the research proposed? I would think that a Chair would want to be aware of human research going on in his/her department so as not to be blindsided if something goes wrong. I also wonder why a Chair who would refuse to sign off on an IRB application for personal reasons wouldn’t be run out of town for violating the researcher’s academic freedom. Our IRB never required Chair signatures before and I opened this can of worms with a proposed revision of our IRB application that included a Chair signature line. Given that our Chairs sign-off on everything else, I never dreamed this would be such a touchy subject. I do believe there is some history here of which I am unaware. So I’m looking for some input from other institutions to determine how we might move forward: 1. Does your IRB application require the Department Chair’s signature? 2. Does the application require any other signatures besides the PI and the Chair (like Dean, VPAA, VPR, etc.) 3. If you don’t require any administrative signature (e.g., you only require PI and perhaps Co-I signatures), do you officially inform at least the Chair of the protocol submission? If so, how much information do you share (minimal descriptive info. Vs. full copy of the application)? 4. If you do have Chairs sign, what is the phrasing about the signature (acknowledgement of review, assurance of availability of resources, approval of the protocol, or something else)? 5. If Chairs must sign, what is the rationale for having them do so? This will probably be a pretty interesting discussion, so please share your responses with the entire list. Thanks, Barbara Ms. Barbara H. Gray Director of Grants & Contracts Valdosta State University 1500 North Patterson Street Valdosta, GA 31698-0429 Telephone: 229-333-7837 Fax: 229-245-3853 Email: xxxxxx@valdosta.edu ====================================================================== I nstructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists") ======================================================================