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Multi-Institutional Research Policy

What is multi-institutional research, and what should I know if it applies to me?

Multi-institutional projects are projects that involve conducting human subjects’ research in partnership with one or more institutions outside of Roanoke College.

If you are involved in a multi-institutional project, whether you need to submit a new application to Roanoke's IRB will depend on where data collection is taking place and what affiliation the participants have. For example:

    • if no data is being collected at Roanoke College or from Roanoke College students, staff, faculty, or alumni, you do not need to submit your project to Roanoke College’s IRB
    • but if data is being collected at Roanoke College or from Roanoke College students, staff, faculty, or alumni, Roanoke College's IRB needs to review the project, but you don't necessarily have to go through the whole process of submitting a new IRB application

If another institution is listed as the primary site and they are submitting an IRB application on behalf of all partnering sites, you may not necessarily need to submit an IRB application from scratch to Roanoke College.  If this is the case, you should begin the New IRB Application form and submit:

    1. the primary site’s full IRB application and
    2. the primary site's final approval

Roanoke’s IRB will then review all submitted materials and determine whether a full application for review is required.  Until you receive an official Certificate of Action from Roanoke College’s IRB, please do not begin any recruitment or data collection.

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