Exempt Research Performed in International Settings

I. Policy Summary

Federal regulations do not require research determined by the NJIT Institutional Review Board (IRB) to be exempt from further review (exempt research) to undergo review at the foreign site where the research will be performed. However, NJIT requires that all research performed by its faculty, staff, and students meet the highest ethical standards. Therefore, NJIT researchers performing research in an international setting must exercise due diligence with regard to respecting the host culture.

II. Policy Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that NJIT researchers performing exempt research in an international context exercise due diligence with regard to respecting the host culture (where the research will be performed).

III. Policy Scope and Applicability

This policy is in effect for all units of NJIT and applies to all protocols submitted to the IRB that are deemed by the IRB to be exempt from further review and that will take place in a non-US context.

IV. Definitions

Institutional Review Board (IRB): An administrative university committee charged with the evaluation of human subject research in accordance with federal regulations and institutional policies. The committee reports to the senior vice provost for research, but acts autonomously. IRB committee members and chairs serve on the basis of three-year renewable  appointments. 

IRB Administrator: A staff member tasked with assisting the chair(s) of the IRB with management of all administrative processes related to maintaining IRB workflow and processes. This person is tasked with assisting and training the NJIT community on IRB processes. The current IRB administrator is the director for research compliance and services.

International Research: Research performed in a non-US country or region.

V. Policy Statement

Researchers performing research in international settings must respect the host culture. Respecting the host culture entails an awareness of, and compliance with, all local customs, standards, laws, and regulations. In addition, researchers must make their research objectives clear to local research subjects and must remain aware of any concerns of or risks to local individuals, groups, or communities, which may go beyond those normally encountered in a US context.

Researchers performing research in an international setting must exercise due diligence with regard to respecting the host culture. Exercising due diligence will require researchers to demonstrate an awareness of, and compliance with, all local customs, standards, laws, and regulations, and respect for any concerns or risks that may go beyond those normally encountered in a US context.