Research activity has greatly expanded the last few years at NDSU, including the type of research that involves human participants. Since fiscal year 2005, new protocol submissions to the Institutional Review Board have increased 30 percent, with overall review activity up 40 percent. The last several months have been particularly busy, with almost twice the volume of protocol submissions compared to the same time period last year.

While a large jump in research activity is exciting for NDSU, it does present challenges in meeting demand while retaining review quality and timeliness. Investigators are urged to plan ahead and allow additional time for Institutional Review Board staff and members to process and review their protocols. Researchers can contribute to a more efficient review and avoid unnecessary delays by ensuring the protocol form is completed thoroughly and accurately, all relevant signatures and applicable attachments are included and required training has been completed and documented by all members of the research team.

For more information, go to ndsu.edu/research/irb or contact Kristy Shirley, Institutional Review Board research compliance administrator, at 1-8995 or ndsu.irb@ndsu.edu.