TRAINING
IRB – Human Subjects Training
The University at Albany has adopted a mandatory initial and on-going educational training program in the ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research for ALL investigators and research personnel involved in research involving human subjects. Research personnel are defined as anyone who has contact with human participants and/or access to research data.
The University offers an on-line training program through the University of Miami’s CITI Course in the Protection of Human Subjects. There are five groups to choose from as outlined below.
Group 1: Biomedical – This group is intended for professors, research personnel, faculty advisors and key personnel who do engage in Biomedical research (for projects which include any physiologically invasive procedure, i.e. blood draws, carbon dioxide inhalation, saliva swabs, etc.).
Group 2: Social and Behavioral – This group is intended for professors, research personnel, faculty advisors and key personnel who do not engage in Biomedical research.
Group 3: Graduate Student – This group is designed for masters and doctoral level students engaged in research or research practica, regardless of whether the research is Social and Behavioral, or Biomedical.
Group 4: Undergraduate Student – This group is designed for undergraduate students who may be engaged in research, research practica or a research methods class.
Group 5: IRB Members and Staff – This group is designed to meet one of the requirements that IRB members and staff receive comprehensive continuing education.
New researchers to University at Albany are required to take one of the BASIC Courses. As of 2005, the BASIC training courses are valid for 3 years. Once 3 years have passed, you are required to re-certify by taking a REFRESHER Course that corresponds with the appropriate Group listed above. Please note that the REFRESHER Course is for those who wish to continue with human participants research upon expiration of the three-year certification period.
Click on the link below, and follow the registration instructions on the CITI site. Once you have completed the required modules, a completion certification will be generated for you by CITI. Please print a copy of the completion report for your own records. The results are automatically forwarded to the Office of Research Compliance.
Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI)
The Office of Research Compliance strongly encourages researchers to call or visit the office for answers to specific questions. Additionally, Office of Research Compliance staff is available for classroom lectures. Please contact the office for more information.
IACUC Animal Use Training
All personnel involved in animal care and use must undergo training with the animal care staff, or provide certification of previous training, prior to animal use.
The Chair of the IACUC provides a training session for all new animal users including faculty, technicians, graduate students and undergraduate research students. This session covers state and federal regulations, regulatory and animal care resources, options for reporting animal care concerns, responsibilities of the institution, the IACUC/Protocol Review, ethics, occupational health and safety, animal handling, anesthesia, analgesia, and euthanasia.
The training session is generally offered in the fall and spring. Principal investigators must provide sufficient proof of qualifications for animal use to the Chair of the IACUC and the Consulting Veterinarian (for invasive procedures) prior to beginning animal use.
Any investigator lacking sufficient qualifications will be provided with appropriate training from the animal care staff, IACUC Chair, and/or the Consulting Veterinarian as needed.
Additionally, there is an on-line training available at ResearchTraining.org that is provided through the VA Office of Research and Development
IBC Training
The IBC requires Primary Investigators to ensure that all laboratory personnel, including students, are trained in accepted procedures in laboratory safety procedures, accident techniques, and precautionary medical practices.
All individuals listed on an IBC protocol must provide their curriculum vitae as evidence that they are properly trained in microbiological and biosafety practices or complete the required training before approval will be granted.
For information on how to obtain this required training or to get information on other courses offered, please contact the
Office of Environmental Health and Safety at (518)-442-3495.
Research Integrity Training
The Office of Research Compliance strongly encourages researchers to call or visit the office for answers to specific questions or to obtain useful documentation and guidance.
Additionally, Office of Research Compliance staff is available for classroom lectures. Please contact the Office of Research Compliance for more information.
