1. To have enough time to decide whether or not to be in the research study and to make that decision without any pressure from the people who are conducting the study.
2. To refuse to be in the study at all, or to stop participating at any time after you begin the study.
3. To be told what the study is trying to find out, what will happen to you, and what you will be asked to do if you are in the study.
4. To be told about the reasonably foreseeable risks of being in the study.
5. To be told about the possible benefits of being in the study.
6. To be told whether there are any costs associated with being in the study and whether you will be compensated for participating in the study.
7. To be told who will have access to information collected about you, and how your confidentiality will be protected.
8. To be told whom to contact with questions about the research, about research-related injury, and about your rights as a research subject.
9. If the study involves treatment or therapy, to be told about the other non-research treatment choices you have.
10. To be told where treatment is available should you have a research-related injury, and who will pay for research-related treatment.

Concerns and complaints are taken very seriously and are treated with the utmost respect and all possible confidentiality.  If you have questions about your participation in a research study, we encourage you to first contact the Principal Investigator (PI) or other study team member listed at the phone number/email on your consent form or information sheet. 

If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome, are unable to receive a response after an appropriate amount of time, or have a concern about your participation that you do not wish to discuss with the PI or study team member, you can contact the Institutional Review Board (IRB).  The IRB is a group of scientists, clinicians and lay persons who review each research study before it starts to ensure that the study is well-designed, does not involve unnecessary risks, and ensures the safety of research participants.

You may report a concern or complaint to the IRB by calling 701-231-8995, 1-855-800-6717 or emailing ndsu.irb@ndsu.edu.

If you contact the IRB, please try to have your consent form or study information available because you will be asked to provide information about the particular study.