The CUNY assurance with the U.S Department of Health and Human Services requires the LaGuardia
Institutional Review Board to review the research design for compliance with human subjects’regulations. This requirement
is mandated by federal law and is given further impetus by the ethical standards set by professional societies(see Links ).
If you are planning to conduct research involving human subjects, whether funded or not, submit applications to
Dr. Xiwu Feng, Communication Skills Department, E-115, LaGuardia Community College, 31-10 Thomson Avenue,
Long Island City, NY 11101; Email: xfeng@lagcc.cuny.edu.
Documents You need to Submit for IRB Review:
1. CUNY IRB Application Form (for new applications and must be completed and signed by the PI and, if applicable,
faculty advisor1) or CUNY IRB Continuing Review Form (for extension of previously approved research).
2. HIPAA forms, if your research is health-related2.
3. Project Description as required by CUNY IRB Application Form.
4. Consent Form as required by CUNY Application Form.
5. Other required documentations, if applicable.
6. Computer Based Training Certificate3 (CITI Course in Protection of Human Reseaarch Subjects).
Review Process:
The Committee meets on the 4th week of each month during the regular semesters. In order to be placed on the
Committee's agenda for a given month, you must submit all materials for review to the IRB Chair at least two weeks
before the meeting date. Approximately one week after the meeting, you will be notified in writing of the Committee's
decision. This letter will either 1) grant approval to proceed with the proposed research or 2) describe what must be
done to allow the proposal to receive final approval. You should allow at least one month for the review process, since
the Committee may request revisions or additional information before granting final approval. Most revisions are reviewed
at the next Committee meeting; however, substantive issues may take more than one additional meeting to be resolved.
Please also allow at least two months for Continuation Reviews. It is strongly suggested that researchers refer to the Principal
Investigator's Manual, especially Information Sheets and Sample Consent Forms, for guidance in preparing applications and
consent forms.
If you have questions specifically relating to your project's content, please direct all of your inquiries to LaGuardia
IRB Chair: Dr. Xiwu Feng by phone (718-482-5623), by Email (xfeng@lagcc.cuny.edu).
Note:
1. Applicants must submit the original and 10 copies for Full Committee reviews, the original and 3 copies for
Expedited, Exempt and Continuing reviews. If proposed research is a component of a dissertation, the researcher
must also submit an IRB approval letter from the institution where he/she is enrolled.
2. If proposed research involves health care and patients, you may need to submit HIPAA Form for special
review by CUNY-wide IRB.
3. Computer Based Training Requirement (CITI): The University, in compliance with a mandate from the
Department of Health and Human Services, requires all individuals involved in human subjects research
(investigators and support staff, faculty and students, sponsored or non-sponsored) to receive CITI Course
in Protection of Human Reseaarch Subjects. The LaGuardia Community College IRB will not review protocols
submitted by anyone who cannot provide documentation of satisfying this requirement. You must complete CITI Course in
Protection of Human Reseaarch Subjectsin order to obtain this documentation. Once you've completed CITI Course,
submit the certificate of completion to IRB. Go to the CITI Course (Computer Training) web page to take the
CITI Course.
