Guidelines for MPH Field Experiences and MPH

Culminating Experiences Involving Human Subjects

Research
You must contact the MPH Associate Director, Maureen Moran at mmoran@northwestern.edu or 312-503-0500 if you think your project
may require IRB review.
1.

All projects that involve human subjects research must have IRB approval
and this approval (or a copy of the application pending approval) must be
addressed in the FE/CE application. (As defined in federal regulation:
Human subject means a living individual about whom an investigator
(whether professional or student) conducting research obtains (1) data
through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) identifiable
personal information.)

2.

One of the following should be provided with the CE/FE application:

a) if the work is part of a larger project that has received IRB approval,
the projects approval letter from the IRB,
b) if the work meets the criteria for exemption from IRB oversight,
documentation in the form of an IRB approval letter, or the pending
application for approval as an exempt project,
c) If the work is eligible for expedited review, documentation in the form
of the IRB approval letter for the research, or the pending application
for approval as an expedited project,
d) if the work requires full IRB review, documentation in the form of the
IRB approval letter for the research, or the pending application for
approval as a new project.

Under no circumstances may a CE or FE involving human subjects be

started without an IRB approval letter on file in the Program on
Public Health office.
3.

IRB review and approval may be obtained from the NU IRB or from the IRB
of an affiliated hospital. if that is where the work will occur.

4.

When applicable, other IRB approvals may suffice, e.g., approval from
another university for research being conducted there. However, it may
not, and each such case must be reviewed administratively by the NU IRB.

5.

It is the responsibility of both the student and the NU mentor to make sure
that the necessary approvals are obtained and provided to the Program in
Public Health.