The SBER IRB Team—An Essential Part of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research

The Social, Behavioral & Educational Research Institutional Review Board (SBER IRB) is charged with reviewing and approving all human subject research studies conducted by faculty and students based on the Medford/Somerville campus. Lara Sloboda (IRB administrator), Martin LaVigne (IRB coordinator), and Emily Cox (staff assistant) make up the SBER IRB team for the Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR). Read more »

Preparing Data Management Plans for Grant Applications

As the data produced by research in all fields increase in volume and complexity, funding agencies have begun to require researchers to create plans for managing, sharing, and preserving their data. Specific and detailed data management plans are required for all proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation and to the National Endowment for the Humanities Office of Digital Humanities. Read more »

Effects of the New U.S. Patent System on the Academic Researcher

The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on September 16, 2011. A main provision of this sweeping patent reform act will take effect on March 16, 2013, when U.S. patent law will change from the current “first-inventor-to-invent” system to a “first-inventor-to-file” system. The new system will harmonize U.S. patent law with the rest of the world. Read more »

New Simplified Continuing Review Process

The Tufts Medical Center/Tufts University Health Sciences Institutional Review Board (Tufts MC/TUHS IRB) approves all human subject research studies conducted by faculty and students based on the Boston and Grafton campuses. All studies that have been approved through expedited or full review are required to undergo a Continuing Review by the IRB at least once per year. IRB office staff are available to assist researchers in preparing for their Continuing Review so that research involving human subjects can continue without gaps. Read more »

Continuing Review of Human Subject Research Studies

The Tufts University Social, Behavioral & Educational Research Institutional Review Board (SBER IRB) approves all human subject research studies conducted by faculty and students based on the Medford/Somerville campus. All studies that have been approved through expedited or full review are required to undergo a Continuing Review by the SBER IRB at least once per year. IRB office staff are available to assist researchers in preparing for their Continuing Review so that research involving human subjects can continue without a gap. Read more »