Annual Research Compliance Reminders

Compliance Contacts and Information for SIUC Researchers

Human Subjects Research

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Southern Illinois University oversees all research involving human subjects. Investigators conducting human subjects research must obtain approval from the IRB before recruitment and any involvement of human subjects. The IRB cannot review protocols for projects already in progress or completed.

SIUC IRB policies apply to all human subject research undertaken as faculty or staff, independent study, student theses, research projects, dissertations, and any other research involving human subjects. Pilot studies and class research projects may also require IRB approval (please see the IRB website for additional information on class projects).

All individuals submitting IRB applications must complete the required CITI training: Social & Behavioral Research Basic/Refresher. Once the training is complete, the IRB Coordinator confirms completion through the administrative CITI portal. Additional information on submitting IRB applications, consent and recruitment templates, IRB policies, and accessing CITI training is available on the Office of Research Compliance (ORC) website. Research Compliance staff are available for in-person, email, and phone consultations. For more information email the IRB Coordinator at siuhsc@siu.edu or call 618-453-4534.

Working with Vertebrate Animals and Cephalopods

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees provisions for the care and well-being of vertebrate animals and cephalopods involved in research, teaching, and testing at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The IACUC is committed to serving the research community by ensuring compliance with all legal and ethical standards regarding the use of animals in research.

Research (including teaching protocols) involving vertebrate animals and cephalopods require IACUC review and approval. Observational studies may also require approval. Only the IACUC can determine if an observational study requires oversight and approval. The IACUC cannot provide post-hoc approval. If you are unsure whether your study requires IACUC oversight, contact the IACUC Coordinator before your research begins. Students whose work involves vertebrate animals or cephalopods should retain proof of IACUC review or determination as the Graduate School will request it at the time of graduation.

Animal research must be conducted by adequately trained persons using all necessary measures to prevent, minimize and alleviate pain and distress to an animal. All individuals working with vertebrate and cephalopod animals must enroll in the Occupational Health and Safety program for animal workers and complete the required CITI training. Concerns regarding humane care and use of animals are taken seriously. Individuals who witness unethical, improper, or unauthorized animal use can submit an anonymous report on the IACUC website or by contacting the Office of Research Compliance (orc@siu.edu; 618-453-4530.).

Please direct questions regarding training, submission of IACUC protocols, or working with animals to the IACUC Coordinator, Rachel Swetz (iacuc@siu.edu; 618-453-4533). Questions regarding the vivarium should be directed to the Lab Animal Program (lap@siu.edu; 618-536-2348). Please note that animal experiments involving biohazardous materials or recombinant DNA also require review by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (refer to the next section).

Working with Biohazardous Materials, Toxins/Infectious Agents, Recombinant DNA or Recombinant Organisms, or Gene Drive Modified Organisms

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is charged by federal law to review and approve elements of the campus biosafety program. The purpose of this program is toensure thehealth and safety of all personnel working with biohazardous materials. Biohazardous materials include synthetic or recombinant nucleic acids, microbial vectors that spread infectious diseases, federal select agents, items regulated as Dual Use Research of Concern, Gene Drive Modified Organisms, and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential.

The IBC consists of members with expertise and research experience in biohazardous materials and biosafety experiments that may pose potential risks to health or the environment. The federal regulations and guidelines include the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), 6th Edition, Federal Select Agents Regulations, and Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential. These resources form the basis for campus IBC policies and procedures and reviewing individual research proposals for biosafety concerns.

Any SIUC personnel planning to conduct research, whether funded or not, involving federally regulated biohazardous materials must apply to the IBC for approval. If you are unsure whether your project requires IBC approval, investigators must contact the IBC. If needed, the IBC will provide instructions on submitting an IBC Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement (MUA). The IBC reviews the submitted MUA, approves, or requests changes in order to approve, the MUA, and assigns the appropriate biosafety level in collaboration with the Principal Investigator.

Questions regarding the IBC should be directed to IBC administrative office at ibc@siu.edu, the IBC chair, Derek Fisher (dfisher@siu.edu), and/or the Institutional Biosafety Committee Office, Andrew Wood (awood@siu.edu).

Working with NAGPRA-Regulated Collections

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) governs the treatment, study, and repatriation of Native American human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony held or controlled by the University. NAGPRA applies to any institution that receives federal funds and has possession or control of NAGPRA-eligible items, regardless of whether the specific research project is federally funded.

Under the 2024 revised NAGPRA regulations (43 CFR Part 10), institutions must obtain free, prior, and informed consent from federally recognized Tribes or Native Hawaiian Organizations before initiating or allowing any research on, access to, or exhibition of Native American human remains or cultural items.
Researchers must not assume that a collection is outside NAGPRA's scope without confirmation. Contact the SIU NAGPRA Program Director before beginning or continuing any research, loan, or destructive analysis potentially involving human remains or cultural items.

The Human Remains Protection Act (HRPA, 20 ILCS 3440) protects unmarked burials, grave markers, grave artifacts, and Native American human remains encountered in Illinois.

Questions regarding NAGPRA or HRPA should be directed to Carol Samarah (nagpra@siu.edu; 618-453-8122).

Industrial Hemp Research

The Illinois Department of Agriculture and USDA regulate research on industrial hemp. Hemp used for research can only be planted, grown, stored, or researched on/in plots and labs listed on SIUC’s hemp production license and specific reporting procedures must be followed. For additional information on conducting industrial hemp research at SIU, please contact the Cannabis Science Center Director (cannabis-center@siu.edu).

Conducting Research at the University Farms or Greenhouses

All agricultural and greenhouse workers (students, staff, and faculty) at SIU must complete the federally mandated Worker Protection Safety (WPS) training annually. Individuals can only work in, around, or on research plots, farm centers, or the greenhouses after completing this training. Faculty are responsible for ensuring their students complete the training.

Anyone who handles (mixes, loads, or applies) pesticides must have an Illinois Pesticide Applicator/Operator license.

Individuals working with animals must complete additional online CITI training and enroll in the Occupational Health and Safety program for animal workers. For additional information on worker protection or pesticide training, please contact the University Farms Director, Chris Vick (cvick@siu.edu; 618-453-2469).

Research Security

Federal granting agencies now require senior/key personnel to complete research security training as a condition of proposal submission. Most agencies require this training to be completed within the 12 months prior to submission, though some, such as Department of Energy, require refresher training throughout the period of the award.

The Office of Research Compliance provides research security training through CITI. For questions on how to access the appropriate training or confirm your renewal status, contact the ORC (orc@siu.edu; 618-453-4530).

Hazardous Materials Shipping & Transport

When shipping or transporting hazardous materials, the sender has the ultimate responsibility of ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations. Several regulatory authorities are involved in the shipping and transport of hazardous materials, including the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), United States Postal Service (USPS), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and individual carriers and airlines. Other countries may have their own sets of regulations for the transport of dangerous goods within their boundaries.

The DOT requires training for anyone shipping hazardous material at a frequency of every three years. IATA requires training every two years. SIUC offers this training through CITI. Individuals in need of training may contact the Office of Research Compliance for access (orc@siu.edu; 618-453-4530).

Any materials being shipped or transported outside of the country must be authorized by the Export Controls Office. Shipping and transport of hazardous materials must also be authorized by the Center for Environmental Health and Safety (CEHS) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (as applicable). For assistance in shipping hazardous materials, contact Matthew Thompson (matthew.thompson@siu.edu; 618-453-1521).

Export Control Office

The U.S. government regulates the transfer of information, commodities, technology, and software considered to be strategically important to U.S. interests of national security, economic, and/or foreign policy concerns. Export-controlled activities that may be affected by these regulations include international travel, international collaborations, international visitors on campus, transfer of equipment, materials, or technology to foreign countries, participation in foreign talent programs, use of military, defense or dual-use items, and restrictions on publication. SIU requires international travel to be registered on an International Travel Registry. The Export Controls Office should be contacted directly about any other potential export-controlled activities.

SIU Export Control Office is a system office. For additional information, please contact the Export Control Officer for the Carbondale campus, Brenda Martin (bjmartin@siu.edu) or the Export Controls Director, Todd Wakeland (twakela@siue.edu).

Responsible Conduct of Research Resources & Training

All researchers have the ethical and moral obligation to conduct their university-sanctioned research responsibly and to train their staff and students in the responsible conduct of research. Adherence to responsible research practices must be part of the legacy that each mentor passes on to their students as part of the research training process.

Researchers (including undergraduates, graduate students, and post-docs) receiving support from federal granting agencies must complete field specific CITI training for Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). NIH requires additional RCR training, some of which must include in-person activities. Private sponsors may also require RCR training for specific projects. For questions regarding SIUC’s RCR training and policies contact the Office of Research Compliance (rcr@siu.edu or orc@siu.edu; 618-453-4530).

Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI) Resources & Training

The Financial Conflict of Interest on Federal GrantsPolicy was designed to promote objectivity in research by establishing standards that provide a reasonable expectation that the design, conduct, and reporting of research funded by federal grants or cooperative agreements will be free from bias resulting from investigator financial conflicts of interest. The FCOI policy applies to all SIUC faculty and other staff involved in federally funded research.

The Office of Research Compliance requires training completion for any federally mandated conflict of interest and responsible conduct of research training at the time of disclosure submission. Self-paced online modules that satisfy federal granting agency training requirements are available through CITI, take approximately 40 minutes to complete, and are valid for four years.

For additional information on submitting or updating FCOI disclosure forms and accessing training modules, please contact the Office of Research Compliance (rcr@siu.edu or orc@siu.edu; 618-453-4530)