* Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) *

According to 45 CFR 46 a human subject is "a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research:

• Obtains information or biospecimens through intervention or interaction with the individual, and uses, studies, or analyzes the information or biospecimens; or
• Obtains, uses, studies, analyzes, or generates identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens."

Research involving private information or biological specimens provided by an outside source (such as a commercial provider) may be considered "human subjects" research. Consult the decision tree to determine if your project is considered "human subjects" research.

If you plan to work with human subjects, you will need approval or a waiver from Illinois Tech's Institutional Review Board (IRB). This applies regardless of whether your proposal is grant-funded or not,

For more information see the IRB web page:

Animal research, also known as animal experimentation, animal testing, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments that seek to control the variables that affect the behavior or biological system under study.

Any Illinois Tech researcher who plans to conduct research on any animal subjects must first obtain approval from Illinois Tech's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Please submit an email to iacuc@iit.edu if you have any questions or would like to submit an application for review. For more information, see the IACUC web page:

Illinois tech's Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) has oversight of experimentation that involves recombinant DNA, biological materials (e.g., infectious agents), and other potentially hazardous agents (e.g., carcinogens). For more information, see the IBC web page: