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Saginaw Valley State University

Institutional Review Board

Cooperative and Multi-Institutional Research

Cooperative or multi-institutional research involves two or more institutions or organizations conducting or supporting activities related to the same research project. These arrangements may involve research conducted at multiple locations, collaboration among investigators at different institutions, use of participants or data from another institution, or research conducted at SVSU by an investigator whose primary affiliation is elsewhere.

When research involves more than one institution, investigators must consider the requirements of each institution involved, as well as applicable federal, state, sponsor, and other requirements.

SVSU Researchers Conducting Research at Another Institution

SVSU faculty, staff, and students who conduct research at another institution or organization must comply with:

  • SVSU requirements;
  • the requirements of the institution or organization where the research will occur; and
  • any applicable federal, state, local, or sponsor requirements.

Researchers should obtain the appropriate approvals or permissions before beginning research activities at another institution.

Approval from the other institution does not replace SVSU requirements when SVSU is involved in the research. Depending on the circumstances, an IRB authorization or reliance agreement may establish which IRB will provide review. Investigators should not assume that an approval from another institution automatically applies to SVSU.

Research Conducted at SVSU by an Outside Investigator

An investigator from another institution who wishes to conduct research at SVSU must obtain appropriate authorization before beginning research activities at SVSU.

The requirements depend on the nature of SVSU's involvement in the project. The IRB will determine whether SVSU is engaged in research and whether SVSU IRB review, an IRB reliance agreement, or another form of institutional authorization is appropriate. An outside investigator should be prepared to provide information such as:

  • the research protocol and relevant application materials;
  • documentation of IRB review or approval from the investigator's home institution, when applicable;
  • information identifying the institutions and individuals involved;
  • a description of the activities that will occur at SVSU;
  • documentation of SVSU faculty or staff involvement, when applicable; and
  • any other documentation requested by the SVSU IRB or University.

If the outside investigator's institution does not have an IRB, the SVSU IRB will determine the appropriate review process based on the research and SVSU's involvement.

Approval by Another Institution Does Not Automatically Authorize Research at SVSU

Researchers must not begin research activities at SVSU simply because the project has been approved by another institution's IRB.

An approval from another institution means that the other institution's IRB has reviewed the research under its authority. It does not automatically provide permission to conduct research at SVSU, access SVSU facilities or records, recruit SVSU students or employees, or involve SVSU personnel in research activities.

Before conducting research at SVSU, the investigator must complete the applicable SVSU process. This may result in:

  • review and approval by the SVSU IRB;
  • an SVSU IRB determination that another IRB will serve as the reviewing IRB under an appropriate reliance or authorization agreement;
  • a determination that SVSU is not engaged in the research, with appropriate institutional permission; or
  • another institutional process determined appropriate by SVSU.

The investigator is responsible for contacting the SVSU IRB before beginning research at SVSU.

IRB Reliance and Authorization Agreements

For some cooperative research projects, one IRB may serve as the reviewing IRB for multiple institutions. Federal regulations permit institutions engaged in cooperative research to establish arrangements for IRB review rather than requiring every institution to conduct a completely independent review.

An SVSU researcher or outside investigator may request that SVSU rely on another institution's IRB. Such arrangements require appropriate institutional authorization and documentation. Investigators may not establish reliance on their own or assume that another institution's IRB approval is sufficient.

When SVSU relies on another IRB, SVSU may still need to complete institutional requirements related to:

  • site or administrative permission;
  • conflicts of interest;
  • researcher training;
  • privacy and data security;
  • use of University facilities or records;
  • recruitment of SVSU students, faculty, or staff;
  • contractual or sponsor requirements; and
  • other University-specific requirements.

An IRB reliance agreement determines responsibility for IRB review; it does not necessarily eliminate other institutional requirements.

When SVSU Is Not Engaged in the Research

There are circumstances in which an outside investigator conducts research at or involving SVSU, but SVSU is not considered engaged in research under applicable federal guidance.

In these situations, the outside investigator remains responsible for obtaining IRB approval from the appropriate reviewing IRB and must obtain any required permission from SVSU before conducting activities on University property or involving University resources, personnel, records, students, faculty, or staff.

Whether SVSU is engaged in research is a fact-specific determination. Investigators should consult the SVSU IRB when this status is unclear.

Research Involving Multiple Sites

When a research project includes multiple data-collection sites, the investigator is responsible for ensuring that each participating site has the appropriate IRB review, authorization, or reliance arrangement before research begins.

For federally funded research, additional requirements may apply to institutions and investigators participating in the project. Investigators should also review the requirements of the funding agency and any applicable federalwide assurance or other institutional assurances.

Researcher Responsibilities

Investigators involved in cooperative research must:

  • identify all institutions and organizations involved in the research;
  • identify where research activities will occur;
  • determine which individuals are acting as members of the research team;
  • disclose the involvement of SVSU faculty, staff, and students;
  • identify where participant recruitment, interaction, intervention, or data collection will occur;
  • obtain the required IRB review, determination, reliance agreement, or institutional permission before beginning research;
  • comply with the requirements of all institutions involved;
  • maintain documentation of required approvals and agreements; and
  • submit changes to the appropriate reviewing IRB and SVSU, when required.

SVSU as a Resource for Community and Regional Partners

SVSU recognizes that community organizations, health departments, schools, health care organizations, and other regional partners may wish to conduct research involving human participants but may not have their own Institutional Review Board (IRB).

When a community partner or other organization requires IRB review and does not have access to an IRB, SVSU may be able to provide IRB review or serve as the reviewing IRB, when appropriate and consistent with federal regulations, University policy, and the circumstances of the proposed research. This may provide an important resource for organizations conducting research in partnership with SVSU or within the communities we serve.

Requests for SVSU to provide IRB review for an external organization will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The organization should contact the SVSU IRB before beginning recruitment, data collection, or other research activities involving human participants. Depending on the circumstances, SVSU may require a formal IRB authorization or reliance agreement, documentation from the partner organization, a completed research application, evidence of required training, or other information needed to establish appropriate oversight.

SVSU's involvement as the reviewing IRB does not eliminate other requirements that may apply to the organization, such as institutional permission, contracts or agreements, data-use requirements, privacy and security obligations, or applicable federal, state, or local requirements.

Through this process, SVSU can help extend its commitment to the ethical conduct of research and the protection of human participants beyond the University, supporting responsible research partnerships throughout the region.

Important Reminder

IRB approval is institution-specific. Approval from another institution does not automatically authorize research at SVSU.

If you have approval from another institution and plan to conduct any portion of the research at SVSU or involve SVSU personnel, students, faculty, staff, facilities, or records, contact the SVSU IRB before beginning the research. The SVSU IRB will determine what process is required.