Teri Grosz has been promoted to human research protection program manager and Kristy Shirley has been promoted to research compliance administrator for NDSU’s institutional review board, part of Sponsored Programs Administration in the Office of the Vice President for Research, Creative Activities and Technology Transfer.
NDSU’s institutional review board examines proposed research involving human participants to ensure compliance with federal regulations and ethical standards. Since fiscal year 2002, growth of research activities at NDSU has led to an increase of 132 percent in board protocol actions, and an increase of 82 percent in new protocols. In addition to the increased volume and complexity of the protocols, there has been an increase in training requirements for faculty and students to ensure compliance with federal regulations and institutional policies regarding human subjects research.
“With the growing number of human subject research projects and prestige of NDSU as a research institution, these positions fill a much needed role,” said Dennis Cooley, chair of NDSU’s institutional review board and associate professor of philosophy and ethics. “We must not only comply with current government standards, but also be prepared for a higher level of standards when regulations change, which often occurs. The human research protection program manager and the research compliance administrator allow us to efficiently fulfill our obligations to researchers and to the governmental bodies which oversee research activities.”
In her new role, Grosz will implement a new random audit program, investigate reports of noncompliance, implement corrective actions, handle policy revisions and lead educational efforts for board members, faculty and students, including new mandatory continuing education requirements for research investigators and for board members. She also will continue progress toward NDSU’s readiness for accreditation of its human subjects protection program. Grosz has 14 years of experience in various analytical research labs in Fargo and in Minneapolis. She previously served as NDSU’s research compliance and training officer from 2001-08. Grosz is a certified institutional review board professional and member of Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research. She earned a master’s degree in microbiology from NDSU.
Shirley, will handle institutional review board protocol activity, as well as pre-screening protocol submissions and oversight of the board committee. Shirley previously has served as board program coordinator since 2006, providing compliance committee support. Her previous experience includes quality management and research assistance at Prairie St. John’s in Fargo. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from NDSU. Shirley also is a member of Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research.
More information on policies and regulations regarding human subjects research is available at www.ndsu.nodak.edu/research/irb. If you are a member of the NDSU research community and would like to receive institutional review board updates about regulatory or policy information on human subjects research, send requests to ndsu.irb@ndsu.edu.