New Mexico Tech's Institutional Review Board (IRB) is charged with protecting the
rights and welfare of human research participants recruited to participate in research
activities conducted at New Mexico Tech. The members who serve on the IRB are scientists
and staff members from Tech, as well as non-affiliated members of the Socorro community.
The board meets once a month to review all applications.
Many of the human subjects research projects at NMT are eligible for either administrative
or expedited review. The IRB meets as needed to review any projects that require full-board
approval. All on-going research projects that involve human subjects are reviewed
yearly, depending upon the level of risk.
Definition: NMT Research means a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to
generalizable knowledge, including basic and applied investigations and product development
that is:
Funded by or through NMT (including outside sponsored funding)
Conducted at NMT, regardless of funding
Non-sponsored and conducted off campus by NMT employees
HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH POLICY
NMT's Official Policy on Human Subjects Research can be found on the NMT POLICIES page.
IRB APPLICATION
IRB Application Form Instructions: Fill out the SmartSheet Form to request an IRB review of your research project.
Supporting Documentation: all supporting documentation must be attached to application before it is considered
complete. Each IRB Application must include:
most recent training certificates (e.g. RCR, HSR, COI) of the Primary Investigator
(PI) as well as for ALL co-investigators listed on the project.
any survey questions or materials the human subjects will be directly interacting
with.
a completed IRB signature form (faculty advisor assurance if applicable)
Should you need to submit more documentation after you've submitted your application
please email it directly to irb@nmt.edu
IRB Additional Forms
IRB Modification Form
Should you need to modify some part of your original IRB Approved project/research you will need to complete the IRB Modification Form. The following
are reasons why you would need a modification:
Requesting a temporary IRB study expiration date extension
IRB Modification Form Instructions: Fill out this SmartSheet form to request an IRB Modification Review of your research
project. All supporting documentation must be attached to application before it is
considered complete. Should you need to submit more information please email it directly
to irb@nmt.edu
IRB Annual Renewal Form
Multi-year projects are initially approved by the IRB for a 12-month period, any research
expected to extend beyond that date must file yearly to renew the IRB approval. The PI is responsible for not allowing their IRB Approval to lapse. It is recommended the renewal application be filed 60 days or 2 months prior to the expiration date.
This Renewal must include:
A list of any changes proposed to the following areas of the original Approved project/research:
Research personnel
Research procedures used
Informed consent documents
Types of human subjects participating
Types of data collected
The IRB also asks that you provide a written explanation for these changes.
An Annual Progress Report
The report should detail your project/research such as your progress/setbacks/breakthroughs/etc.
so the IRB can quickly assess the work and avoid delaying your approval renewal.
IRB Annual Renewal Form Instructions: Fill out this SmartSheet form to request an IRB Annual Renewal Review of your research
project. All supporting documentation must be attached to application before it is
considered complete. Should you need to submit more information please email it directly
to irb@nmt.edu
IRB Adverse Event Reporting Form
Use this form to report unanticipated events or problems caused by or related to a
human subject's participation in your research project.
Adverse events are extremely unlikely since NMT does not perform clinical research of any kind, but we make this form available as required by federal law.
IRB Adverse Event Reporting Form Instructions: Use this SmartSheet form to report unanticipated events or problems caused by or
related to a human subject's participation in your research project.
New Mexico Tech's IRB Administrator reviews all Human Subjects Research- including classroom or practicum projects that will not be
published. Please complete the IRB Application Form.
If your research project will NOT collect any Personally Identifiable Data from your participants:
Your project could be eligible for Administrative Determination for exemption.
Please be aware that you cannot start your project until you have the signed Approval
Form in hand.
If your research project WILL collect certain types of Personally Identifiable Data from your participants:
Your project could be eligible for an Expedited Review, which is performed by the IRB Administrator and one other IRB member. This can take
up to three weeks to complete, depending on the availability of board members.
Please be aware that you cannot start your project until you have the signed Approval
Form.
Does my project require informed consent?
Informed ConsentMUST always be sought from the participants in your research project. The informed consent requirements found in HHS 45 CFR 46 Regulation for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research provide a bedrock protection
for individuals participating in research studies. The department of health and human services provides excellent examples of consent
form requirements.
What do students need to be involved in HSR Research?
Students involved in HSR Research (inside & outside the classroom) at NM Tech MUST complete their CITI training in order to participate. This is to ensure a strong understanding of responsible and ethical research practices
and project design. These training modules should only be taken once every 4 years. Students must complete the following training:
Social & Behavioral Research (Formerly Human Subject Research) Curriculum
Defining Research with Human Subjects - SBE (ID 491)
The Federal Regulations - SBE (ID 502)
Assessing Risk - SBE (ID 503)
Informed Consent - SBE (ID 504)
Conflicts of Interest in Human Subjects Research (ID 17464)
What about classroom or practicum projects involving HSR?
New Mexico Tech's IRB Administrator reviews all Human Subjects Research- including classroom or practicum projects that will not be
published. Please complete the IRB Application Form.
Your project could be eligible for an Administrative Review, which will only take
a short amount of time.
Please be aware that you cannot start your project until you have the signed Approval
Form.
Students involved in research at NM Tech must complete their CITI training in order
to participate. This is to ensure a strong understanding of responsible and ethical research practices
and project design. Students should complete the following training:
Social & Behavioral Responsible (formerly Human Subject Research) Curriculum
If your research project will NOT collect any Personally Identifiable Data from your
participants:
Your project could be eligible for Administrative Determination for exemption.
Please be aware that you cannot start your project until you have the signed Approval
Form in hand.
If your research project WILL collect certain types of Personally Identifiable Data
from your participants:
Your project could be eligible for an Expedited Review, which is performed by the IRB Administrator and one other IRB member. This can take
up to three weeks to complete, depending on the availability of board members.
Please be aware that you cannot start your project until you have the signed Approval
Form.
Can I use HSR in my Student Research Symposium (SRS) Project?
ALL SRS projects that include in-person or online surveys or human subject research/testing
of any kind MUST have an IRB approval BEFORE the project is begun.
Student/s must have the HSR CITI training modules complete
Student/s and their faculty research advisor/s must fill out an IRB application including:
Student/s & Advisor/s signature page
Proof of CITI Training for every student involved in the project
Outline of the research procedures, examples of survey questions, etc.
Consent form
It may take up up to a month to receive IRB approval so please plan ahead.
SRS projects submitted without IRB approval will be ineligible to participate.
What is Personally Identifiable Data in HSR?
Personally Identifiable Data is defined by federal regulation as the following information:
Name (i.e., names on survey or questionnaires)
Identification Numbers (i.e., Social Security Number, Tech Student ID Number)
Contact Information (i.e., Physical Address, Phone Number, Email Address and/or IP Address) Audiotape
recordings, videotape recordings, or photographic images of participants
Blood, tissues, bodily fluids, or DNA from participants
Sensitive health or medical information (i.e., HIV status; drug/alcohol use; mental/physical disorders; illicit or criminal
behaviors; or other information that could cause harm to the participant if it became
known in their community.
What if my project uses special populations (children or minors under age 18) or is
collecting very sensitive personal data?
Your project may require Full‐Board Review.
This will require a meeting of the full Institutional Review Board, which can take
up 1 month to arrange. You may be asked to provide more information to the Full Board
before it decides to approve or disapprove your project.
Please be aware that you cannot start your project until you have the signed Approval
Form from the full IRB.
Violating the requirements of Title 45 – Public Welfare Part 46 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (45 CFR 46) can lead to serious consequences. Penalties may include written
warnings, reprimands, fines, and sanctions against the institution or researchers
involved. In some cases, federal funding for all sponsored projects may be withdrawn.
Studies that fall under any exempt category as outlined in 45 CFR 46.104(d) may be eligible for an exempt review.
Exemptions cannot be granted for research involving prisoners or children that includes:
Surveys,
Interviews, or
Observation of public behavior—unless the observation involves public behavior in
which the investigator does not participate.
If the IRB determines the study is not exempt, it will require either expedited or
full board review. Although certain research activities involving human subjects are
exempt from 45 CFR 46 regulations, they must still be submitted to the IRB for review
and approval.
Still Have Questions?
NMT's Research Compliance division provides consultation and compliance services to
researchers conducting or considering Human Subjects Research. Please direct questions
or concerns regarding the NMT Human Subjects Research Program toirb@nmt.edu.
Research Compliance Officer and IRB Administrator: Val Thomas - val.thomas@nmt.edu or 575-835-5749
