Required Training

YSU faculty, staff, and students involved, or plan to become involved with human subjects must complete the Human Subjects Research training through the CITI Program prior to engaging in research activities. This includes when starting a new study, when joining an active research project, and accessing and analyzing privately identifiable data.

Depending on the type of research conducted, one of the following courses must be completed to meet the training requirement:

1. Social and Behavioral Research: research on individual or group characteristics or behavior, including but not limited to research on perception, cognition, motivation, identity, language, communication, cultural beliefs or practices, and social behavior. This type of research often employs data collection methods such surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, and non-invasive physical measurements. Social-behavioral research also include epidemiological or outcomes research and health services research.


2. Biomedical Research: research on specific diseases and conditions (mental or physical), including but not limited to the detection, cause, treatment, and rehabilitation; the design and methods, drugs and devices used to diagnose, support, and maintain the patient; cellular and molecular bases or diseases, genetics and immunology. Most biomedical research is patient-oriented and involves clinical trials.

A complete set of instructions for registering and completing this training can be found on the Human Subject Protection Required Training webpage. New investigators should consider beginning the online training course up to two weeks prior to the submission of an IRB protocol or grant submission.

Training is valid for a three-year period. Faculty, student, and staff investigators must renew their training certification before it expires by taking either a refresher course or retaking the full course.