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A. Space Use (for projects in the Science Center)
Any research conducted by Wellesley College faculty, staff and students and involving human subjects (whether externally funded or not) must be approved by the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB). The IRB is responsible for protecting the rights and welfare of individuals who serve as subjects or participants in research. Approval must be renewed annually.
Both unfunded and funded research must be approved before faculty, staff or students can begin collecting data. Please see the College human subjects/IRB guidelines for information on what must be approved, and the circumstances under which individual departments may approve research without IRB consultation.
For funded research by faculty, a request for IRB approval of procedures for research with human subjects should be submitted to the IRB for approval once funding is granted, unless the funder requires approval at the proposal stage.
Wellesley College has a Federal Wide Assurance number (FWA) with the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The FWA is required for all federally-funded projects; the Office of Sponsored Research will assist PIs in completing this process, once they have received IRB approval of their research.
The names of current members of Wellesley's IRB are posted on the IRB First Class conference (see below). Questions concerning protocols for the protection of human subjects should be addressed to the Chair of the IRB, Nancy Marshall (nmarshal@wellesley.edu) or x 2551.
Please review the College human subjects/IRB guidelines thoroughly. More information on federal regulations, the IRB committee and forms are located in the IRB First Class conference. Go to "Committees" under "Wellesley Conferences" and choose "IRB."
As required by the Public Health Service (PHS), Wellesley College has established an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to ensure the humane care and use of live vertebrate animals involved in research activities. The names of current members of the IACUC may be obtained from the Science Center Office.
PIs whose projects use vertebrate animals (whether externally funded or not) should complete the protocol form, available from the Science Center Office, and return it to the Administrative Director of the Science Center. Full committee review normally takes two weeks.
Wellesley's Animal Welfare Assurance, filed with NIH's Office for Protection of Research Risks, is #A3840-01.
All research involving recombinant DNA techniques (whether externally funded or not) must be approved by the Wellesley College Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), which has been established according to NIH guidelines. The names of current members of the IBC, as well as the rules which apply to this research, may be obtained from the Science Center Office.
PIs who use this technology may obtain a protocol form from the Science Center Office. The IBC normally meets twice each year, in May and December. Approval must be updated annually.
Researchers who plan to use any kind of radioactive material must contact the Radiation Safety Officer, who monitors the use of all radioisotopes to ensure that safety and licensing requirements are satisfied. The name of the current Radiation Safety Officer may be obtained from the Science Center Office.
In recent years, the federal government has increased the number of assurances that Wellesley College must file in order to receive federal support. Thus, in addition to long-standing Civil Rights, Handicapped Individuals, and Sex Discrimination assurances, the College must now provide certification regarding Delinquent Federal Debt, Debarment and Suspension, Lobbying, Drug-Free Workplace, and Misconduct in Science.
The two assurances of particular concern to faculty PIs are:
1. Drug-Free Workplace. In compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, the College must certify that it has adopted a policy on the possession and use of alcohol and illegal drugs on College property. That policy follows:
Illegal or improper use of alcohol will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of illegal drugs by any person on the property of Wellesley College is prohibited. Such action shall result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
2. Misconduct in Science. In 1989, as required by federal law, the College developed a set of procedures for dealing with and reporting possible misconduct in science. A copy of these procedures is on file in the offices of the Dean of the College, the Academic Director of the Science Center, and Sponsored Research, where they may be consulted by members of the College community.