At Governors State University all research involving human subjects must be reviewed by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Getting Started with the IRB

The IRB uses Cayuse, an electronic system that allows the review and management of IRB protocols from initial submission to closure. If you are new to the IRB process and need a Cayuse account, email the IRB at irb@govst.edu or contact Anna Bernadska, Assistant Director of Research Compliance, at abernadska@govst.edu.

If you get a “your Cayuse account has been disabled” message or experience other issues while trying to log into Cayuse, email irb@govst.edu or contact Anna Bernadska, Assistant Director of Research Compliance, at abernadska@govst.edu.

QUESTIONS about the IRB submission process? Email irb@govst.edu or contact Anna Bernadska, Assistant Director of Research Compliance, at abernadska@govst.edu.


IRB News

 

Faculty Research Needs Survey

In March 2024, the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research surveyed GovState faculty. The purpose of the survey was to identify areas where support for faculty research may be improved and to inform the university's future decisions about supporting research endeavors. You may review the results of the surveyhere.

CIRTification Training for Community Research Partners

GovState’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) has joined CIRTification Online, a free human research protection training program for community members participating in community-academic research collaborations. The program is available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. We are excited to offer our community partners this training. To enroll please fill out the enrollment form.

SMART IRB

GovState’s IRB has joined SMART IRB, the national IRB reliance initiative. SMART IRB is a platform designed to ease common challenges associated with initiating multisite research and to provide a roadmap for institutions to implement the NIH Single IRB Review Policy (effective date: January 25, 2018). For more information about SMART IRB, visit their website.

SONA System for Student Research Participant Pool

OSPR and the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) have licensed SONA SYSTEMS. SONA SYSTEMS is a participant pool management software that facilitates the recruitment of student participants for lab and online studies. For more information about using SONA, please visit their website.

IRB Review

 

IRB approval or a determination that the project is exempt from IRB review must be obtained before any research involving human subjects is initiated. Please review these documents to familiarize yourself with the responsibilities of the Principal Investigator and Faculty Advisor, and the IRB review process:

 

CITI Training

 

To fulfill the IRB's requirement for training in human subjects protection, researchers must complete training through the CITI Program. Completion of training will certify a researcher for three years and enable the researcher to apply to the IRB for approval of research protocols.

 

Cayuse How-Tos

 

To fulfill the IRB's requirement for training in human subjects protection, researchers must complete the CITI ProgramCITCITI Program. Completion of training will certify a researcher for three years and enable the researcher to apply to the IRB for approval of research protocols.

 

Consent Templates

 

There is often a wide range of research activities and participants, and one consent form may not be appropriate for all purposes. Depending on your needs, you may choose from the templates below:

 

Resources and FAQs

 

IRB Policies and Procedures

 

The IRB is in the process of updating old and developing new policies and procedures for the review of human subjects research. You may review the IRB SOPs here.

IRB Education

 

Board Members

 

IRB Chair

  • Scott Getsoian, College of Health and Human Services

Provost Appointments

  • Janet Brewer, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Craig Anderson, Community Member
  • Danielle Osmelak, College of Health and Human Services
  • Lamise Shawahin, College of Education
  • Valentina Postelnicu, College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty Senate Appointments

  • Scott Getsoian, College of Health and Human Services
  • Praggyan Mohanty, College of Business
  • Nicholas Marra, College of Arts & Sciences
  • Maria Valgoi, College of College of Education & Human Development
  • Cari Didion, Library

Prisoner Representative

  • Janet Brewer, College of Arts and Sciences
 

Contact Information

 

Email your questions to irb@govst.edu or call 708.534.4987

Feedback

 

Have a complaint? please fill out the Anonymous IRB Feedback Form.