Education and Workshops

Educational requirements for conducting human subject research
Prior to starting research projects involving human subjects, all investigators and study staff need to complete human subject protection tutorial available at: http://cme.cancer.gov/ or similar formal training in human subject research and ethics. A copy of the certificate has to be submitted to the AHC IRB office. Training certificates for the principal investigator, sub-investigators and research staff involved in the study must be on file in the AHC IRB office before the final IRB approval for the study is granted.

Note: educational requirements apply not only to people who will be consenting subjects, but also to those who will be involved in the study in other capacities and handling identifiable subject data.

AHC IRB Quarterly Educational Sessions
The IRB quarterly education sessions are held in the Umbeck conference room in the Oak Brook Support Center. Please call the AHC IRB office at 847-384-3534 for directions. Meeting topics are provided several weeks before the scheduled date.

Educational sessions and workshops
The AHC IRB office is currently offering the following educational sessions:

• Advocate IRB: Application process and documents;
• Consent process and documentation;
• Consent form writing workshop;
• Drug development process and IND issues;
• Medical Devices and IDE issues

To schedule an educational session at your institution (regardless of the number of participants) on any of these topics, please contact the AHC IRB office at 847-384-3534 or via e-mail: IRBMail@advocatehealth.com

Note:There is no charge for any of the educational sessions offered by the AHC IRB office.

FOREsight (Fundamentals of Research Ethics) Program
The Advocate’s research program funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (CMEs, CEUs, or a certificate are available upon program completion).

Participants in this 11-month program receive a monthly newsletter and a booklet summarizing IRB procedures, basic ethics of human subject research, and frequently asked questions about investigator responsibilities. They are invited to attend quarterly live educational events featuring nationally known experts in human subject research. Topics in the FOREsight program include distinguishing research from quality improvement initiatives; the substance and process of informed consent; recognizing and addressing conflicts of interest; guidelines for recruiting and advertising research subjects; special considerations when conducting research involving children, and other important issues. The program provides an excellent refreshment course for experienced investigators and research staff, as well as a great learning opportunity for individuals or departments with little or no research experience.

To register and/or learn more about the program, please go to: www.advocatehealth.com/researchethics

Chicago IRB Consortium Meetings
Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Location: Advocate Health Care Oak Brook Support Center, Oak Brook, 2025 Windsor Drive, Oak Brook, IL 60523, Umbeck Room

To learn more about the Consortium activities, please contact the AHC IRB office at 847.382.3534 or via e-mail: IRBMail@advocatehealth.com