Responsibilities of Conducting Research
- Acknowledge and accept your responsibility for protecting the rights, welfare, health and safety of human research subjects and for complying with the applicable regulations.
- Accept and endorse the Virginia Tech commitment to the protection and safety of human subjects in research.
- Acknowledge the authority and responsibility of the IRB and IRB Chair to make the final approval (or disapproval) of research involving human subjects.
- Participate in the education/training program to qualify to conduct research involving human subjects.
- Fully inform subjects of the risks, benefits, subjects’ expectations, compensation and other aspects of the research in which they are being asked to participate.
- Use only the currrent IRB approved consent document(s) and study forms.
- Obtain Informed Consent from each human subject in a non-coercive manner. Provide each subject a copy (or duplicate original) of his/her signed Consent form. All signed Consent documents are to be retained in a secure and confidential manner for a minimum of three years.
- Report promptly proposed changes in previously approved human subject research activities to the IRB. The proposed changes will not be initiated without IRB review and approval, except where necessary to eliminate apparent immediate hazards to the subjects.
- Report progress of approved research to the IRB in the manner prescribed by the IRB at the time of approval.
- Report promptly to the IRB any injuries or other unanticipated or adverse events involving risks or harms to human research subjects or others.
- Conduct research by generally accepted ethical standards such that the rights and welfare of human subjects are not compromised and that the greatest possible benefits accrue to the subjects and to society.