Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) FAQ

Who Can Act as the Principal Investigator (PI)?

The following can act as the PI:

• Full-time CUNY faculty and staff and Research Foundation–CUNY staff
• Adjunct faculty (with approval)—Adjunct Faculty as PI Form
• Students and postdoctoral scholars (You must have a faculty member listed on the project as an adviser.)

How Do I Submit a Human Subject Application?

IRBManager is the IRB protocol submission, review, and management system for CUNY human subjects research projects.

From the IRB Manager homepage, select “To login using CUNY Login.” You will use your CUNYfirst credentials, where your username is entered as firstname.lastname##@login.cuny.edu followed by the password associated with that username.

Do I Need a Training Certificate to Conduct Human Subject Research?

Yes, you must have a CITI certificate for human subject research. To get a certificate, you must complete the training program at the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (select “City University of New York” as your institution). The CITI certificate is valid for three years. If your credential has expired or is close to expiring, please take the refresher course. This will give you a new certificate that is valid for another three years. All of your staff should have CITI certificates as well. (See CITI Training Requirements)

How Do I Determine if My Project Is Human Subject Research?

You may contact Office of Research Compliance with questions about whether your project is considered human subjects research.

See the Office for Human Research Protections Decision Tree and Decision Tool: Am I Doing Human Subjects Research? as additional resources.

Information, definitions, and guidance on private identifiable information can be found here.

Do I Need IRB Approval to Conduct Classroom Research?

Classroom-based research projects are generally conducted for educational purposes and not as research. While some may require submission of an IRB application or a determination that IRB approval is not required, many class projects require neither.

Instructors and departments are encouraged to contact the Office of Research Compliance for guidance about ways to handle topics such as privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, and professional ethics when class projects are part of the course syllabus.

What if I Am Conducting Research With a Non-CUNY–Affiliated Collaborator?

Contact the Office of Research Compliance for guidance, as the engagement of both institutions needs to be assessed in order to make an appropriate determination.

I Have Completed My Study. What Are My Next Steps?

If you have completed data collection and analysis, PIs and/or faculty advisers must submit a final report on IRBManager. Students working with faculty advisers are encouraged to complete their research endeavors prior to graduation in order to submit a timely final report. Faculty advisers are required to submit if the student is unable to do so. 

How Long Am I Required to Retain My Human Subject Research Documentation?

Investigators are responsible for retaining signed consent documents, IRB / HRPP Office correspondence, and research records for a period of at least three years after study completion. For studies involving children, the materials are to be kept for at least three years beyond the age the child becomes an adult. However, sponsoring agency requirements may dictate that records be kept longer. If your research was sponsored, check with the sponsor to make sure that the minimum three-year retention requirement meets their needs.

The CUNY Office of Research Integrity & Compliance  provides further information on the policies and procedures for the HRPP.