HSRC Update re Coronavirus

Currenly, it is expected that the HSRC staff will work remotely through the end of 2020.  You may experience a delay in email or phone responses, or protocol review processing time. We will do our best to ensure that disruptions to normal review processes remain minimal.

RESEARCHERS: Given the current concerns about Coronavirus, you should restrict your research activities so that your presence and interaction with human subjects do not increase risk to any individuals with regard to the virus. Follow the guidelines for the University's Mitigating Impacts to Research Activities due to COVID-19. You must also consider the guidelines from state and local authorities for the area in which your research is being conducted.

Kittitas County is currently in Phase 3.  Please see Governor Inslee's "Safe Start, Stay Healthy" and heed the restrictions according to the phased approach in the area of your study.  Other relevant resources include:

https://coronavirus.wa.gov/

http://www.cwu.edu/emergency/respiratory-viruses

If you need to modify any aspect of your protocol due to the Coronavirus impacts, call or email us, and we will work quickly and closely with you. Apart from ceasing or pausing data collection, do not make any changes to your protocol without prior HSRC written approval.

Please contact us with any questions at hsrc@cwu.edu or 509-963-3115.

Welcome to the Human Subjects Review Program

Central Washington University established an institutional review board (IRB) in 2001.  The IRB is an oversight committee, administratively independent of the institution it serves.  At CWU, this committee is called the Human Subjects Review Council (HSRC).   It is the role of the HSRC to safeguard the rights and welfare of human subjects by evaluating the risks and benefits of the research to assure an acceptable balance. 

The HSRC is charged with reviewing all research involving human subjects to ensure the research complies with institutional policies, state (WAC 388-04), and federal laws (45 CFR Part 46).    It is the policy of CWU (CWUP 2-40-160) that all research involving human subjects regardless of funding source be reviewed by the HSRC.  The involvement of human subjects research conducted by CWU students, staff, or faculty is not permitted until the HSRC has reviewed and approved the research protocol.  Even if, according to the regulations, the research appears to be exempt from review all researchers will submit applications for approval or certification of their research activities.  Analysis of secondary data may also be considered human subjects data and fall under the purview of the HSRC.

Ultimately, it is the goal of the HSRC to be partners with investigators in research, encouraging open communication in an atmosphere of mutual respect and support that promotes ethical and responsible research.