Introduction

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Exemption From Further Institutional Review

1. "Research conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings, involving normal educational practices, such as (i) research on regular and special education instructional strategies; or (ii) research on the effectiveness or comparison among instructional techniques, curricula, or classroom management methods."
2. "Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey procedures, interview procedures or observation of public behavior, unless: (i) information obtained is recorded in such a manner that human subjects can be identified, directly or indirectly through identifiers linked to the subjects; and (ii) any disclosure of the human subjects' responses outside the research could reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subject's financial standing, employability, or reputation."
3. "Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey procedures, interview procedures, or observation of public behavior that is not exempt under paragraph (b)(2) of this section, if (i) the human subjects are elected or appointed public officials or candidates for public office; or (ii) Federal statute(s) require(s) without exception that the confidentiality of the personally identifiable information will be maintained throughout the research and thereafter."
4. "Research involving the collection of existing data, documents, records, pathological specimens, or diagnostic specimens, if these sources are publicly available or the information is recorded by the investigator in such a manner that subjects cannot be identified, directly or indirectly, through identifiers linked to subjects."
5. "Research and demonstration projects which are conducted by or subject to the approval of Department or Agency heads, and which are designed to study, evaluate, or otherwise examine: (i) public benefit or service programs; (ii) procedures for obtaining benefits or services under those programs; (iii) possible changes in or alternatives to these programs or procedures; or (iv) possible changes in methods or levels of payment for benefits or services under those programs."
6. "Taste and food quality evaluation and consumer acceptance studies, (i) if wholesome foods without additives are consumed, or (ii) if food is consumed that contains a food ingredient at or below the level and for a use found to be safe, or agricultural, chemical or environmental contaminant at or below the level found to be safe, by the Food and Drug Administration or approved by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture."

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Note: All research proposals must be submitted for review by either the HSRC administrator or the Committee. Investigators who believe their research protocols meet the criteria for exemption from further institutional review may submit the Request for Exemption Form rather than the lengthier initial application for HSRC approval.

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Minimal Risk ("Expedited") Review

What is "Minimal Risk Review"?

What are the Criteria for Minimal Risk Review?

According to the Federal regulations, a research protocol qualifies for Minimal Risk (Expedited) review if it involves "no more than minimal risk" as defined by specific categories [see the current Federal regulations for more information]. These categories include, but are not limited to:

• "Collection of: hair and nail clippings, in a non-disfiguring manner; deciduous teeth; and permanent teeth is patient care indicates a need for extraction."
• "Collection of excreta and external secretions including sweat, uncannulated saliva, placenta removed at delivery, and amniotic fluid at the time of rupture of the membrane prior to or during labor."
• "Recording of data from subjects 18 years of age or older using non-invasive procedures routinely employed in clinical practice.  This includes the use of physical sensors that are applied either to the surface of the body or at a distance and do not involve input of matter or significant amounts of energy into the subject or an invasion of the subject's privacy.  It also includes such procedures as weighing, testing sensory acuity, electrocardiography, electroencephalography, thermography, detection of naturally occurring radioactivity, diagnostic echography, and electroretinography.  It does not include exposure to electromagnetic radiation outside the visible range (for example, x-rays, microwaves)."
• "Collection of blood samples by venipuncture, in amounts not exceeding 450 milliliters in an eight-week period and no more often than two times per week, from subjects 18 years of age or older and who are in good health and not pregnant."
• "Collection of both supra- and subgingival dental plaque and calculus, provided the procedure is not more invasive than routine prophylactic scaling of the teeth and the process is accomplished in accordance with accepted prophylactic techniques."
• "Voice recordings made for research purposes such as investigations of speech defects." NOTE: In other words, voice recordings in which the information of interest is produced by the process of speaking itself, without regard to what is being said.
• "Moderate exercise by healthy volunteers."
• The study of existing data, documents, records, pathological specimens, or diagnostic specimens.  NOTE:  Research of this type is appropriate for expedited review rather than exempt review if there are identifiers linked to the subject, and if data cannot be considered archaeological or historical data.
• "Research on individual or group behavior or characteristics of individuals, such as studies of perception, cognition, game theory, or test development, where the investigator does not manipulate subjects' behavior and the research will not involve stress to subjects."  NOTE:  The information gathered under this provision would not be as much personal as situational; such information, were it to become known, would not usually affect the social standing or credibility of the subjects.  NOTE:  The term "manipulate" here should be interpreted to include some behavior that would be considered deceptive outside of the research context.

It is important to remember that it is not the presence of the above activities that qualifies an application for Minimal Risk Review, but the absence of anything beyond such activities. If the study involves any activities that are more intrusive, more personal, or more risky than the above, it is unlikely to qualify for Minimal Risk Review. Instead, such research protocols would receive a Full Board review at a convened meeting of the Human Subjects Review Committee (HSRC).

How do I Apply for a Minimal Risk Review?

If, after carefully reviewing the criteria for minimal risk, or "expedited review" described in the Federal regulations, an investigator should submit the Initial Application for HSRC Review application. On the first page of the application form, the first section provides an opportunity for the investigator to request an minimal risk (or "expedited") review of the research protocol and application materials. Please note that the "Request for Exemption" form should not be used when applying for a "Minimal Risk Review."

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Full Committee (HSRC) Review

Any research protocol that does not fall into one of the other two categories (i.e., "exempt" or "minimal risk") shall be submitted for Full Committee Review. The principal investigator may be requested to submit as many as thirteen copies of the HSRC Application form and supporting documents for review by the full committee. HSRC approval is usually valid for one year and may be amended or modified using the requisite applications forms (e.g., Request for Continuing Approval, Request for Approval of Modifications).

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