Research Staff (PDF) at UMKC is defined as persons who have direct contact with subjects, contribute to the research in a substantive way, have contact with subjects' identifiable data or biological samples (e.g., tissue, blood, urine, plasma, saliva), or use subjects' personal information.

There are common responsibilities incumbent to any investigator or research staff engaging human participants in research studies. A qualified investigator or research staff provides the best opportunity for maximizing the assurance for the protection of humans participating in research.

The IRB mandates that all investigators and research staff, under its jurisdiction, conducting research with humans meet the requisite responsibilities to assure the safety and welfare of the participants. Investigators shall possess the qualifications and expertise to appreciate the complexities in the research and be able to ethically carry out the proposed activities.  

The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) was founded in March 2002 as a web-based training program in human research subject protection.  This training is now available through the UMKC website for Investigators and research staff.

The CITI program offers numerous training modules, including:

• Basic Courses in the Protection of Human Research Subjects
• Biomedical Focus
• Social and Behavioral Focus
• Good Clinical Practice Course
• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course
• Refresher Courses

All investigators and appropriate research staff engaged in human subject research must complete a set of modules relevant to the type of research being conducted.

Required Courses (Basic and Refresher*)

Group 1 Biomedical investigator should be completed if your work is primarily in the biomedical realm or if you also do research in social/behavioral.
    (if you are working in a hospital or clinical setting you should take Group 1)

Group 2 Social/Behavioral should be completed if your work is exclusively in the social sciences realm. 

Good Clinical Practice (GCP) if your work is a clinical investigation (FDA) or clinical trial.

Group 1 - Biomedical Investigator (UMKC and TMC)

Group 2 - Social/Behavioral Investigator

Good Clinical Practice - Social and Behavioral, FDA Focus, Medical Devices, Investigational Drugs

* The refresher course is required to be taken every 3 years after completion of the basic course.

UMKC and the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)