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Subscribe to PRIM&R's new Online IRB Course!

The Ethical Oversight of Human Subjects Research Course (Online Course) is a four-hour, online course that presents an in-depth exploration of the function and purpose of institutional review boards (IRBs) through an interactive, realistic interface. The course addresses the roles of IRB members who tackle the challenging, ethical, and regulatory issues of human subjects research.

Course participants will learn about the ethical principles and regulations that govern human subjects research. They will learn to apply these rules and principles to both biomedical and social-behavioral case studies. The program further illustrates important points through the presentation of a mock IRB that reviews two different protocols throughout the eight interactive modules.

PRIM&R developed this course after assessing a need for reliable, affordable research ethics education.  The Online Course offers the perfect blend of critical information and adult learning pedagogy.  Special features include:

• Content: Tools to build and strengthen an effective IRB.
• Flexibility: Technology that allows users to take the course from any computer, at any time, and from any place.
• Assessment: Frequent progress checks and module assessments to strengthen the user's knowledge.
• Recognition: A certificate of completion, available after the final test.

The annual fees to access the course are as follows:

• Individual PRIM&R Member: Annual Subscription: $200
• Individual Nonmember: Annual Subscription: $250
• Institutional Annual Subscription: $1850 (This option is available to institutions and has no cap on the number of users. Institutions with multiple campuses/schools are required to purchase a separate subscription for each entity.)

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of Boston University School of Medicine and PRIM&R. Boston University School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Boston University School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 4.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Target Audience 

The target audience for this course is IRB Members. The target audience for CME credit is physicians who serve as IRB members. 

Educational Needs Addressed 

Institutional review boards (IRBs) oversee the application of ethical principles and regulations that protect human subjects, so it is essential that IRB members receive high quality education in these areas. Physicians serving on IRBs might lack adequate training regarding the ethical principles and regulations that govern the conduct of research with human subjects, and the role and scope of the IRB. This course seeks to address this knowledge gap. 

Program Learning Objectives 

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to: 

Define the function and purpose of IRBs;
Utilize tools to build and strengthen an effective IRB;
Communicate effectively within an IRB meeting, and with investigators;
Describe the ethical principles and regulations that govern human subjects research; and
Apply these rules and principles to both biomedical and social-behavioral case studies. 

System Requirements 

Flash Player 6.0.79 or later (Flash Player 7 or later recommended), and one of the following browsers: 

• Windows (Windows 2000 SP4 or later, Windows XP SP2 or later (32- or 64-bit), Windows 2003, Vista (32- or 64-bit), or Windows 7 (32- or 64-bit)): Internet Explorer 6 and later, Firefox 1.x and later, Safari 3 and later, Google Chrome, Opera 9.5 and later
• Macintosh: Firefox 1.x and later, Safari 3 and later
• Linux: Firefox 1.x and later 

Course Faculty 

Leonard Glantz, JD, Course Director
Karen M. Hansen
Susan Z. Kornetsky, MPH 
Stewart A. Laidlaw, PhD
Linda Lewicki, PhD, RN, CIP
Helen McGough, MA, CIP
P. Pearl O'Rourke, MD
Terry VandenBosch, PhD, RN, CIP
Amy Davis, JD, MPH
Joan Rachlin, JD, MPH

For more information about the Online Course, please refer to this list of Frequently Asked Questions. 

This enduring material has been designated for a maximum of 4.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Information about CME, continuing education credit, and certificates of completion can be found here.

Continuing Medical Education by Boston University School of Medicine

Questions?
Please contact us via email or telephone at 617.423.4112, ext. 0. Thank you!