Institutional Review Board (IRB)

WCU is guided by the ethical principles regarding all research involving human subjects as set forth in the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research entitled, "Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research: The Belmont Report".

All faculty, staff, administrators, and students who participate in research at the university must complete the Responsible Conduct of Research through CITI (instructions can be found within the policy).

In addition, the requirements set forth in Title 45, Part 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations will be followed for all applicable Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funded research and for all other research without regard to source of funding.

 

Fall 2023 IRB Co-Chairs Office Hours (for faculty, staff and students):

Dr. Melissa Reed
Wednesdays 10:00-11:00am
Dr. Melissa Reed's Zoom Link

Dr. Heather Leaman
Mondays 3:00-4:00pm
Dr. Heather Leaman's Zoom Link
Students Only Monthly Office Hours Mondays 6-7pm on the following dates:
September 11, October 9, November 13

Please email the WCU IRB co-chairs to schedule a Zoom conversation.

 

Frequently Viewed/Helpful Documents

 


IRB Processing Time and Procedures for Submitting to the WCU IRB

Initial review of your application will take place within three weeks of when the IRB reviewer receives your application. Your IRB reviewer may request edits and changes to your application, this can take an additional two to three weeks to complete. Please plan ahead and allow at least one month for the entire review, revision, and approval process to be completed. The IRB cannot honor requests for a "quick turnaround" or reviews completed by a certain date.

 

IRB Q&A Zoom Sessions

CHS
Dr. Amir Golmohamadi
Wednesday, September 27th 2pm-3pm
In office - SECC 255 Or Zoom
Dr. Amir Golmohamadi Zoom Link

CSM
Dr. Michael Di Giovine
Wednesday, October 4th 1pm-2pm
In office - Old Library 204

CESW
Dr. Merry Staulters
Thursday October 19th 5pm-6pm
Zoom
Dr. Merry Staulters Zoom Link

CHS
Dr. Reva Zimmerman
Friday, October 20th 12pm-1pm
Zoom
Dr. Reva Zimmerman Zoom Link

CHS
Dr. Julie Nair
Wednesday, November 1st 1:30pm-2:30pm
Zoom
Dr. Julie Nair Zoom Link

CAH
Dr. Innhwa Park
Friday, November 3rd 1pm-2pm
Zoom
Dr. Innhwa Park Zoom Link
Passcode: 108578

CESW
Dr. Stacie Metz
Wednesday, November 15th 12pm-1pm
Zoom
Dr. Stacie Metz Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 697 869 5284 | Passcode: 993865

CAH
Dr. Seth Kahn
Monday, December 4th 11am-12pm
Zoom
Dr. Seth Kahn Zoom Link
Passcode: HelpMe

Zoom/drop in at any time during the scheduled times listed!

Topics Discussed

  • Address any questions/concerns on applications being prepared or considered
  • Common errors when submitting
  • Opportunity to clarify any confusion
  • Q&A with IRB Committee members

Intended Audience

  • Anyone who is conducting research involving human subjects
  • If you have a question or two, we are available to discuss your concerns

In addition to the dates listed above, the IRB Co-Chairs hold weekly open office hours. Please feel free to contact them during their office hours with questions.

Dr. Melissa Reed
Wednesdays 10:00am-11:00am
Dr. Melissa Reed Zoom Link

Dr. Heather Leaman
Mondays 3:00pm-4:00pm
Dr. Heather Leaman's Zoom Link

Students Only Monthly Office Hours
Mondays 6pm-7pm on the following dates: September 11th, October 9th, November 13th

Cayuse Electronic IRB Submission (required as of 02/05/2021)

We are excited to introduce our NEW IRB electronic application submission process through Cayuse IRB! Please click here to access Cayuse IRB with your WCU Single Sign On information. After 02/05/2021, all new IRB applications must be submitted through Cayuse IRB.

INFORMATION FOR FACULTY & STAFF: Some faculty and staff have been pre-loaded into the system based on previous IRB use.  If you get an error or an alert that your account has been disabled, please make a request to ADD yourself (or any co-investigators) that are not found in the current system. Please submit the request(s) here:  CAYUSE IRB NEW USER REQUEST.  Once the IRB Office receives the information, this will be uploaded into Cayuse IRB. Please allow up to 2 business days for your request to be granted.

INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS: If you have never used the Cayuse IRB system, please make a request to ADD yourself here: CAYUSE IRB NEW USER REQUEST. Once the IRB Office receives the information, this will be uploaded into Cayuse IRB. Please allow up to 2 business days for your request to be granted.

Here is a link for the Cayuse IRB Training Manual: Cayuse IRB Training Manual

Here is a link for the Cayuse IRB Training Video: Cayuse IRB Training Video

If you have questions about Cayuse or training opportunities, please email the IRB office at IRB@wcupa.edu.

Revision Request and Closures for Protocols Approved in Cayuse IRB

Revision Requests for Cayuse IRB

ALL revisions to WCU IRB approved protocols (even minor revisions such as adding a new student assistant’s CITI Human Subjects Research training completion report) must be submitted as a formal revision.  If you submitted your initial protocol through Cayuse IRB, click here to submit your revision for review and approval.

Closures for Cayuse IRB

Upon completion of your project, WCU requires all investigators to close their research project. Please click here to access Cayuse IRB with your WCU Single Sign On information to submit a closure request for your research project.

IRB Coordination across Pennsylvania’s State System Universities

 

Coordination across PASSHE Universities has been paused. It is the responsibility of the primary investigator of the research to reach out to other PASSHE universities for specific questions regarding research that uses human subjects.

Institutional Review Board Members

IRB Members 2023-2024

Co-Chair:
REED, MELISSA
Phone: 610-436-2141
Department: Kinesiology
Address: Sturzebecker HSC 320
E-Mail: mreed3@wcupa.edu

Co-Chair:
LEAMAN, HEATHER
Phone: 610-436-3323
Department: Early & Middle Grades Education
Address: Recitation Hall 203D
E-Mail: hleaman@wcupa.edu

BRUMLEY, LAUREN
Phone: 610-436-2723
Department: Psychology
Address: Main Hall 530
E-Mail: lbrumley@wcupa.edu

DI GIOVINE, MICHAEL
Phone: 610-436-2247
Department: Anthropology & Sociology
Address: Old Library 204
E-Mail: mdigiovine@wcupa.edu

GOLMOHAMADI, AMIR
Phone:610-436-2175
Department: Nutrition
Address: SECC 255
E-Mail: agolmohamadi@wcupa.edu

GRUGAN, SHANNON
Phone: 610-436-2659
Department: Criminal Justice
Address: BPMC 515
E-Mail: sgrugan@wcupa.edu

KAHN, SETH
Phone:610-436-1640
Department: English
Address: Main Hall 520
E-Mail: skahn@wcupa.edu

METZ, STACIE
Phone: 610-436-2101
Department: Public Health Sciences
Address: SECC 228
E-Mail: smetz@wcupa.edu

NAIR, JULIE I
Phone: 610-436-2331
Phone: 610-436-2331
Address: 930 E. Lincoln HWY 121
E-Mail: jnair@wcupa.edu

PARK, INNHWA
Phone: 610-436-2640
Department: Languages & Cultures
Address: Mitchell Hall 232
E-Mail: ipark@wcupa.edu

STAULTERS, MIMI
Phone:610-436-2398
Department: Educational Leadership and Higher Education Administration
Address: Anderson Hall 218C
E-Mail: mstaulters@wcupa.edu

WALTON, KERRY
Phone: 610-436-3453
Department: Academic Services
Address: Room 127A, University Libraries
E-Mail: kwalton2@wcupa.edu

ZIMMERMAN, REVA
Phone:610-436-2588
Department: Communication Sciences and Disorders
Address: 201 Carter Dr, 418
E-Mail: rzimmerman@wcupa.edu

Non-WCU Community Members:

MARCH, MARY
E-Mail: mmarch@wcupa.edu

SIMS, CHRISTOPHER
E-Mail: csims@wcupa.edu, kyere1@aol.com

TOBY, JEN
E-Mail: Jtoby@wcupa.edu

IRB Monthly Meeting Schedule for Fall 2023

Fall 2023 Meeting Dates-Zoom

Sept. 8th, 1:30pm-3pm
Oct. 6th, 1:30pm-3pm
Nov. 10th, 1:30pm-3pm
Dec. 1st, 1:30pm-3pm


Questions?

  • Please contact the IRB co-chairs, Dr. Melissa Reed and Dr. Heather Leaman, if you have any questions. A Zoom meeting can be scheduled to discuss any IRB matter.
  • You may also contact the IRB staff with any questions/concerns/requests at irb@wcupa.edu.