Required human subjects training

All human subjects researchers must receive formal training and be certified in order to do human research at BU. Everyone who is involved in designing a human study, has contact with research subjects or their data, or is responsible for analyzing data and developing study results must be certified: as examples, investigators, research coordinators and other research staff, study biostatisticians, and study data managers.

Researchers can complete the online human subjects protection curriculum offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The “course” takes about 90-120 minutes to complete. It includes material for reading and a number of quiz questions. Successfully completing the quiz questions allows the student to print off a certificate documenting completion of the curriculum. The course can be found at: http://phrp.nihtraining.com.

Researchers can complete the certification at CITI, an online certification program. Register as a BU user at the website and indicate whether you wish to be certified as a biomedical or a social/behavioral researcher (depending on the type of research you plan to do). The program takes about five to seven hours to complete. https://www.citiprogram.org/default.asp?language=english

A certificate of completion should be attached to grant applications or IRB submissions as proof of human subject protection training.

We also accept proof of certification from other institutions that have acceptable training programs. If you have received training at another institution, please submit a cover letter or memo requesting a review, along with the proof of training and the training curriculum, to the IRB Office.

Phone: 617-358-6115

Email:irb@bu.edu