Before beginning research involving human subjects, all UTSA investigators and research personnel must complete specific training to ensure research is ethical, responsible, and compliant with federal regulations and university policy. This training protects research participants and supports the integrity of our research community.
UTSA requires two main types of training for UTSA-affiliated researchers:
- Human Subjects Protection Training: Provided through CITI courses tailored to your research area. This ensures you understand your responsibilities to participants and how to ethically conduct your research.
- Conflict of Interest (COI) Training and Disclosure: This training helps you recognize and manage any potential conflicts between your research responsibilities and personal or financial interests.
Below you'll find detailed information about these training requirements, along with investigator responsibilities and other resources to guide your compliance throughout your research.
For non-UTSA affiliated researchers: we accept the OHRP Human Research Protection Foundational Training. Once the individual has completed the training, they would add their training certificates to the Miscellaneous Attachments page in Cayuse.
Human Subjects Protection Training Requirement for All Investigators
All researchers are required to complete the following training PRIOR to submission of new studies.
Human Research Ethics Training
- All UTSA faculty, staff, employees, or/and students engaged in human research (this includes people or their private, identifiable information) are required to complete either the CITI “Social/Behavioral Research Course” or the “Biomedical Research Course” before submitting a new study or being added as research staff.
- A refresher course is required every 3 years. The training requirement can be obtained in the Introduction to the CITI Course.
Important: The course called “Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)” does NOT fulfill the UTSA Human Subjects Research Ethics Education requirement. This is an optional module.
- All UTSA employees and students have a MyUTSA ID (abc123). Use Single Sign-On (SSO) when logging in to ensure that the course record is linked to your UTSA Training Log. Log in via SSO
- If you have used CITI before UTSA implemented SSO, please proceed to log in to CITI and select UTSA for SSO login instructions. Please check your CITI account profile and verify that the UTSA network account ID is your MyUTSA ID.
- Click here to access the CITI Online Training.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure and Training
All UTSA faculty, staff, employees and/or students engaged in research are required to disclose and report any potential conflicts of interest.
- Disclosures must be updated annually between January 1st and March 1st.
- See the Office of Institutional Compliance and Risk Services for additional resources, including training materials and the policy.
- Please visit the Conflict of Interest in Research and Intellectual Property Website for more information.
- For questions regarding the policy and the disclosure/approval process, contact the Office of Institutional Compliance and Risk Services by email at compliance@utsa.edu or by phone at (210) 458-2667.
Investigator Responsibilities
Investigator Manual
Whether you're new to human subjects research or just new to UTSA, the New Investigator Manual is a great starting point. It walks you through the IRB process step by step, helping you navigate requirements with confiden`ce and avoid common pitfalls.
| Essential Forms for Researchers |
|---|
| Investigator Obligations (HRP-800) (DOCX) |
| Prompt Reporting Requirements (HRP-801) (DOCX) |
| Informed Consent (HRP-802) (DOCX) |
| Documentation of Informed Consent (HRP-803) (DOCX) |
| Investigator Manual (UTSA) (HRP-910) (DOCX) |
| Additional Forms & Specialized Guidance |
|---|
| DOD Obligations (HRP-810) (DOCX) |
| DOE Obligations (HRP-811) (DOCX) |
| DOJ Obligations (HRP-812) (DOCX) |
| ED Obligations (HRP-813) (DOCX) |
| EPA Obligations (HRP-814) (DOCX) |
| FDA Obligations (HRP-815) (DOCX) |
| ICH-GCP Obligations (HRP-816) (DOCX) |
| Planning Tools |
|---|
|
Worksheets These planning tools help researchers think through study design, assess regulatory criteria and prepare complete, accurate submissions. |
| FERPA (HRP-300) (DOCX) |
| Investigational Device Worksheet (HRP-426) (DOCX) |
| Faculty PI / Student Worksheet (HRP-1000) (DOCX) |
|
Checklists Checklists are used by both researchers and IRB staff to verify that submissions meet ethical and regulatory standards. |
| Children Checklist (HRP-310) (DOCX) |
| Research Involving Impaired Adults (HRP-414) (DOCX) |
| Research Involving Prisoners Checklist (HRP-308) (DOCX) |
| Research Involving Impaired Adults (HRP-414) (DOCX) |
Additional Training Opoortunities
We offer a self-paced course via Canvas on the history of the IRB with a focus on participant safety and protections. To take this course, log into Canvas and search for “Human Subjects Research” (NPC-REDKE-IRB) to enroll.
The course is 3 modules long and you will be provided with a completion badge to add to your profile.
Reporting an Incident
Investigators are required to promptly report any incidents to the IRB office. For details and guides to submit, see:
- What requires reporting (HRP-801)
- How to report – Cayuse
- How to report – OHPM
For any questions, please email IRB at irb@utsa.edu.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
The SOPs below outline how the IRB committees carry out their responsibilities in reviewing, approving and overseeing research involving human participants.