Training

Programs

Research Ethics and Compliance Training

Effective January 1, 2019, Jacksonville University implemented a new Research Ethics and Compliance training program for faculty, students, and staff who are involved in human subjects research.

The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI), a web-based program hosted by the University of Miami, replaced the current National Institutes of Health (NIH) certificate program.

Program Information

How does this change impact human subjects research at JU?

1. The switch to CITI does not have any immediate impact on research projects with active or pending IRB approval.

   As we phase in the CITI trainings, NIH training credentials will be accepted by the JU Institutional Review Board (IRB) through December 31, 2018. This applies to initial (new) applications, amendments, and continuing reviews.

2. After December 31, 2018, completion of CITI’s basic Human Subjects Research courses will be required of all investigators, key personnel, and research team members when an initial (new) IRB application is submitted, even if the NIH training certificate is still valid. This pertains to any/all research being reviewed by the JU IRB, as well as research that is determined by the JU IRB to be exempt.

3. The CITI courses are live and available 24/7 for immediate use by JU’s research community. We encourage faculty, especially new faculty interested in conducting research, to begin the CITI training sooner rather than later. The IRB will accept both CITI and NIH training credentials through December 31, 2018.

4. Download registration instructions.

   Supplemental instructions are also available.

5. Animal Research: Investigators and study personnel involved in the use of animals in research, testing, or education are required to complete the Animal Care and Use Trainings via the CITI program. Learn more about JU’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Program.

6. Why CITI? In addition to providing in-depth instruction required for federal research compliance, CITI provides quick access to training certifications and sends alerts to users when certifications are approaching expiration. CITI was established in 2000 and is currently used by academic, government, and commercial organizations worldwide to train researchers. The cost of the CITI subscription is supported by the JU ORSP.

7. Investigators, key personnel, and members of a research team are those who:

   • Enroll individuals;
   • Obtain subjects' informed consent by doing more than handing out or collecting forms or telling subjects how to get in touch with the Investigators;
   • Intervene or interact with subjects by performing invasive (e.g., drawing blood) or non-invasive (e.g., survey) procedures on them;
   • Collect data directly from or follow-up directly with participants;
   • Collect identifiable private information from participants;
   • Have access to information that links participants' names or other identifiers with their data;
   • Perform data analysis, quantitative or qualitative (e.g., statisticians with access to identifiable private information or participants transcripts); or
   • Act as authoritative representatives for the investigators.