About the IRB
The purpose of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to safeguard the welfare and protect the rights of individuals who participate as subjects in research sponsored by this institution. The IRB reviews all research protocols for any UW-Superior project involving human subjects. Research involving human subjects can be conducted only after it is approved by the IRB.
Information for Student Researchers
Research Guidebook
If you are conducting research involving human subjects, please work with your advisor to review the Research Guidebook and complete the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Decision Tree to determine the appropriate level of review and submission forms necessary. Within the Research Guidebook you can find links to the necessary submission forms based on your level of required review. All student submissions to the IRB must be submitted by the faculty/staff advisor.
All researchers must complete the appropriate CITI Training prior to application submission to the IRB. Please see the Research Compliance information below for further information on creating a CITI account and accessing the appropriate trainings.
If you have any questions, please reach out to irb@uwsuper.edu.
Research Compliance Training, Including Human and Animal Subjects
UW-Superior utilizes the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) to provide faculty, staff, and students with access to training on responsible conduct of research. The training modules within the CITI program are open to use by the entire University community.
Researchers submitting proposals for review to the Institutional Review Board or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee are required to complete certain trainings through CITI prior to proposal submission.
CITI Training Login and Account Instructions
- Go to the CITI program website
- Select “Register” within the upper right-hand corner
- Within the “Select Your Organization Affiliation” text box enter (or select) “University of Wisconsin-Superior”
- Agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and affirm you are affiliated with the university
- Select “Continue to Create Your CITI Program Username/Password”
- Enter the required information. Be sure to use your UW-Superior email address as the primary email when creating your CITI account.
- Select “Add a Course or Update Learner Groups”
- Select the appropriate course(s) for the research you will be conducting based on IRB and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) requirements. See below for details on how to select the appropriate course based on the review board’s requirements.
- Select “Submit”
- After you have completed and passed all of the required module quizzes for the designated course(s), you will be able to download a Course Completion Report. This report must be included with any IRB or IACUC submission(s).
Research Involving Human Subjects
All members of a research team, including the faculty/staff advisor, if applicable, are required to complete the appropriate Human Subject Research course (i.e. Social and Behavioral Science, Biomedical, etc.) prior to submitting a research protocol for review to the Institutional Review Board.
Selecting the Appropriate Course
Within the course selection questionnaire on the CITI website answer the following sections of the questionnaire in order to receive access to the required training course for IRB submissions.
- Under Question 1: Human Subjects Research, select the appropriate course based on your research type (i.e. Social & Behavioral Research Investigators or Biomedical Investigators).
- Under Question 6, select ‘No’ to opt out of the Conflict of Interest Course.
The Social & Behavioral Research- Basic Course or Biomedical Research – Basic Course (whichever is appropriate based on your research) is the only course required for IRB submissions.
Research Involving Animals
For research involving animals you will need to complete the appropriate Responsible Conduct of Research course (i.e. Physical Science, Biomedical, etc.) prior to submitting a proposal for review by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Selecting the Appropriate Course
Within the course selection questionnaire on the CITI website answer the following sections of the questionnaire in order to receive access to the required training course for IRB submissions.
- Under Question 5: Responsible Conduct of Research, select the appropriate course based on your research type.
- Under Question 6, select ‘No’ to opt out of the Conflict of Interest Course.
Information for Faculty and Staff
UW-Superior faculty and staff can find more information on the IRB within the employee intranet.
Information for External Parties
Anyone who is not an employee or student of the University of Wisconsin-Superior who would like access to our students to conduct research must obtain approval from the Dean of Students Office. Please send your inquiry to dos@uwsuper.edu and a member of the Dean of Students Office will review your request.
Anyone who is not an employee or student of the University of Wisconsin-Superior who would like access to our faculty and staff to conduct research must obtain approval from the Human Resources Office. Please send your inquiry to hr@uwsuper.edu and a member of the Human Resources Office will review your request.
If you have a question or concern with an ongoing or proposed research project that involves human subjects, please reach out to irb@uwsuper.edu.