Research Proposals

• My Projects: Lists all projects you have created, enter one by selecting it from list.
• Create New Project: Allows you to create a new project.

The following links are seen only when you have entered a specific project:

• Project Overview: Summarizes the selected project, displays status, documents, allows you to submit the package for review, and share with other IRBNet users.
• Designer: This page contains two steps.  Step 1 lists a document library. Step 2 allows you to upload your documents. This is called “Assemble your document package.” This means you are putting your proposal together.
• Share this Project: Allows you to share your project with other researchers.
• Sign this Package: All packages must be signed before submission
• Submit this Package: After signing, submit, and be sure to submit to the proper committee, there are four options for Ball State: IACUC, IBC, IRB, and ASPiRE, if you select the wrong committee, you will need to resubmit your entire package.
• Delete this Package: If you want to remove the package completely, this cannot be undone.
• Send Project Mail: Allows you to send an email between members of the project team.
• Project History: Lists the Project History of this project.
• Forms and Templates: The same documents as exist in the document library under the “Designer” page, Ball State has four drop downs, ASPiRE, IACUC, IRB, and IBC.

Please follow these steps to register on IRBNet:

• Go to www.irbnet.org.
• Click on “New User Registration,” in the upper right corner of the page.
• Select a username and password, these do not have to be the same as your Ball State username and password. 
• Click “Accept” on “Acceptance of Terms.”
• Affiliate with Ball State University and click Continue.
• Enter your telephone number and email address and click the Register.
• You will receive an email from IRBNet that will allow you to complete the registration process.

Please follow these steps to submit a new study on IRBNet.

• Use your username and password to sign in to IRBNet.
• Click “Create New Project,” located on the left side of the page.
• Enter project title and the first and last name of the principal investigator.
• After entering this information, you will be taken to the “Designer” page. 
• You can access the designer page by clicking on “Designer” under the heading “Project Administration,” located on the left side of the page.
• Under “Step 2,” click on “Add New Document” to upload files.  Putting together your project in this way is called “assembling your document package.”

For a New Study You Need to Upload the Following Documents

IACUC

• Animal Teaching Protocol Form, Animal Breeding Colony Application Form, Laboratory Animal Research Protocol Application Form, and/or Non-Laboratory/Field Animal Protocol Form (depending on your research project, you may need to submit one or more of these documents).

IRB

• IRBNet smart Wizard form.
• Any and all relevant project documents: Informed Consent documents; Parental Permission forms; Surveys; Recruitment Letters or E-mails; Introductory Scripts; Anything you will use in your study that will help the review committee understand your research topic and explains how you plan to conduct your research.

IBC

IBC Protocol Submission form.

After uploading all documents

• To share your study with others involved in the project, click on “Share this Project.”  Select those users you wish to share your study with (if applicable).  
• Next, click on “Sign this Package.” 
• Your project is ready to be submitted to committee.  Click on “Submit this Package.”
• Select the proper committee to review the study.  Ball State University has four listed: ASPiRE, IACUC, IBC, and IRB.  Highlight the committee and click "Continue." 
• Select your “Submission Type,” and choose “New Project.”
• Click “Submit.”

If your project has been deferred, you will need to submit a revision package.

• Use your username and password to sign in to IRBNet.
• Click on “My Projects” and select the project you want to modify.
• Click on "Designer” located under the “Project Administration” section on the left side of the page or in the center of the page.
• Click "Add New Document" to submit a revised document with requested changes. (Note: changes should be made according to the deferral letter sent to the IRBNet e-mail address you provided.)
• Your project will be locked and you will be unable to edit documents that have already been submitted.
• Click "Create New Package" to submit a revised version of the documents requested.
• Create, complete, and submit the appropriate documents.
• In the document type menu, select the most appropriate match for the document you are uploading.
• If there is no match, select “other” from the menu.
• Select the “choose file” tab to browse your computer for desired file (arrow).
• Click the “Attach” button to upload the file to your package.
• The reviewers will be interested in seeing the changes you made to your original proposal.
• For minor changes, such as slight word changes, you may be able to highlight the new text you added to the original document.
• For larger changes you will want to upload a separate document that describes the changes you made in your proposal.
• Including both highlighted changes and a separate document helps to more fully explain how your project has changed in light of committee feedback.
• Click on “Sign this Package,” on the left side of the page. Once at the Sign Package screen, indicate your project role (arrow) and click "Sign".
• Your project is ready to be submitted to the committee, click on “Submit this Package.”
• Select the proper committee to review the study.
• Ball State University has four listed: ASPiRE, IACUC, IBC, and IRB.
• Highlight the committee and click "Continue."
• Select your “Submission Type,” and choose “Revision," and then click "Submit."

To modify a current study, use the following instructions:

• Use your username and password to sign in to IRBNet.
• Select the project you want to modify.
• Click on “Project History,” located on the left side of the page.
• Click on “Create New Package” button located on this page.
• Click on “New Document Package.”
• You are now on the Designer page to upload all necessary documents to submit a modification.

For Modifications, Upload the Following Documents

• Modification Request Form
• Any relevant project documents you need to modify, these could include: Informed Consent documents; Parental Permission forms; Surveys; Recruitment Letters or E-mails; Introductory scripts; Include anything you will use in your study that will help the review committee understand your research topic and explains how you plan to conduct your research.
• Make sure all modifications are highlighted in your documents.  If you do not highlight, your study will not be reviewed.
•  Click on “Sign this Project,” located on the left side of the page.
• Your project is ready to be submitted to committee, click on “Submit this Package.”
• Select the proper committee to review the study. Ball State University has four listed: ASPiRE, IACUC, IBC, and IRB.
• Highlight the committee and click "Continue."
• Select your “Submission Type,” and choose “Amendment/Modification.”
• Click “Submit.”

To submit a project for Continuing Review, use the following instructions:

• Use your username and password to sign in to IRBNet.
• Select the project that needs the continuing review submission.
• Click on "Project History," on the left side of the page.
• Click on "Create New Package."
• Click on "New Document Package."
• You are now on the Designer page to upload all necessary documents to submit a continuing review.

For Continuing Review, Upload the Following Documents

• Continuing Review Form
• If you are making any modifications, you need to include the Modification Request Form and all necessary documents.
• Be sure to highlight all modifications.

After All Necessary Documents Are Uploaded

• Click on “Sign this Project,” located on the left side of the page.
•  Your project is ready to be submitted to committee.  Click on “Submit this Package.”
• Select the proper committee to review the study. Ball State University has four listed: ASPiRE, IACUC, IBC, and IRB.
• Highlight the committee and click "Continue."
• Select your “Submission Type,” and choose “Continuing Review/Progress Report.”
• Click “Submit.”

If an Adverse Event occurs, follow these steps:

• Use your username and password to sign in to IRBNet.
• Select the project that needs the continuing review submission.
• Click on "Project History," on the left side of the page.
• Click on "Create New Package."
• Click on "New Document Package."
• You are now on the Designer page to upload all necessary documents to submit an adverse event.

For Reporting Adverse Events, Upload These Documents

• Adverse Event/Unanticipated Problem Reporting Form.

After you have submitted all of the necessary documents

• Click on “Sign this Project,” located on the left side of the page.
• Your project is ready to be submitted to committee, click on “Submit this Package.”
• Select the proper committee to review the study.  
• Ball State University has four listed: ASPiRE, IACUC, IBC, and IRB.
• Highlight the committee and click "Continue." 
• Select your “Submission Type,” and choose “Adverse Event”
• Click “Submit.”

To close a study, use the following instructions:

• Use your username and password to sign in to IRBNet.
• Select the project that will be closed.
• Click on "Project History," on the left side of the page.
• Click on "Create New Package."
• Click on "New Document Package."
• You are now on the Designer page to upload all necessary documents to submit the Final Report form.

For Closing A Study You Need to Upload the Following Documents

• Final Report Form.

After uploading all necessary documents

• Click on “Sign this Project,” located on the left side of the page.
• If you shared the project previously with an adviser, the adviser and you will be notified of your signature through an email from IRBNet.
• If you are a student, you must wait to receive additional notification that your adviser has signed the project before continuing to step 8.
• Click on “Submit this Package.”
• Select the proper committee to review the study. Ball State University has four listed: ASPiRE, IACUC, IBC, and IRB.
• Highlight the committee and click "Continue."
• Select your “Submission Type,” and choose “Closure/Final Report.”
• Click “Submit.”