Principal Investigator Eligibility at the ӰԺ
A Principal Investigator, or PI, has overall responsibility for the conduct of a research project.
Criteria for Principal Investigators
Who Can Serve As A Principal Investigator
ӰԺ defines an Investigator as any individual who:
- Leads or directs a research project involving human subjects
- Performs activities that engage ӰԺ, Froedtert Hospital or Versiti in anyone else’s research project
- Uses ӰԺ, Froedtert Hospital or Versiti resources; including lab equipment, physical space, or services
- Brings research data onto the campus (ӰԺ, Froedtert Hospital or Versiti space)
- Performs any research activity on ӰԺ, Froedtert Hospital or Versiti campus
A Principal Investigator has overall responsibility for the conduct of a research project, including all technical, programmatic, financial, compliance and administrative aspects. The Principal Investigator is responsible for controlling the technical direction and academic quality of the project, and will ensure that the project is carried out in compliance with the terms, conditions, and policies of the College and the Sponsor when applicable.
PI Education & Training Requirements
All ӰԺ/Froedtert Hospital Investigators must complete required training prior to submission of a research project for review and approval to the ӰԺ/Froedtert Hospital IRB. Investigators are required to remain up-to-date with required training to continue to conduct research at ӰԺ/Froedtert Hospital.
The following training is required for Principal Investigators:
ӰԺ Certification Program (CITI)
- Initial - Everyone involved in the design, conduct, or review of human research carried out by ӰԺ faculty, CTSI faculty and Froedtert nurses investigators at any location or reviewed by ӰԺ/Froedtert Hospital IRBs or another authorized IRB must obtain CITI certification. CITI certification is obtained by completing the required online modules with an overall score of 80%. The initial CITI course can be completed in four to six hours. Six CME credits are available from CITI.
- Annual - Additional human subject protection education is required each year for investigators and coordinators. ӰԺ investigators and coordinators must obtain three hours of human subject protection education annually. Non ӰԺ members of the research team must obtain one hour of human subject protection education annually.
- Refresher – In order to maintain CITI certification, completion of the CITI Refresher course every three (3) years after initial certification is required. Completion of the refresher modules can usually be completed in less than two hours.
Research Banks at ӰԺ and Froedtert Hospital: IRB Training for Bank Personnel
Required for Bank Custodians who have access to the bank database, solicits subject consent for banking, or has record-keeping or administration responsibility for a bank.
Shipping Infectious Materials
Required for anyone shipping infectious materials, blood, lab samples, dry ice, etc.
For research supported by or required to follow a Department of Defense addendum:
For initial and continuing research, ethics education must be completed by all personnel who conduct, review, approve, oversee or manage human subject research. In support of this Investigators should complete ӰԺ DoD human research module.
The following training opportunities are recommended but not required:
- eBridge – Human Research Training
- Human Subject Protections 2007
- IRB Open House – Held monthly
- Human Research Professionals Monthly Meeting
- Human Research Orientation Series
- Core Curriculum: Education for Human Research Team Members
For additional eligibility requirements, review the IRB SOP: Requirements & Qualifications to Serve as a Principal Investigator