Communication with the UCSB HSC

I. Disapprovals, Conditions and Requirements for Modification

 A. Compliance Responses

 1. Disapproval. When the Human Subjects Committee disapproves a project, the investigator and, when appropriate, the investigator's faculty advisor will be notified in writing of the disapproval and the reasons for it. Whenever possible, the investigator may also be notified by telephone, but in all cases, notifications will occur as quickly as possible. A disapproval requires no response, but the investigator or the faculty advisor may respond if (s)he so chooses.

 2. Approval with Condition. Assurance of compliance and an explanation of steps that have been or will be taken to comply with the condition should be submitted in a memorandum (with 2 copies) to the HSC Coordinator.

 3. Requirement for Modifications. When the consent form and/or protocol have been modified as required, the revised original protocol form and/or consent form must be submitted to the HSC Coordinator. Number of copies and any other information required will be specified by the Committee Coordinator.

 B. Request for Reconsideration of Decision

  An investigator may request reconsideration of any Human Subjects Committee decision in accordance with III.B below. Any new information, explanations, or arguments must be submitted with the request for reconsideration.

II. Other Communications

 There may be other circumstances under which investigators or others may wish to communicate with the Human Subjects Committee. As appropriate, these communications may follow the procedures under III.A or III.B

III. Procedures

 A. Informal

 1. In order to obtain information or to make informal comments or suggestions, investigators and others may contact the staff of the Human Subjects Committee either in person, by mail, by e-mail, or by telephone. (See IV.)

 2. On request, these informal communications will be relayed to the Chairperson or to the full Committee, either orally or by inclusion in the monthly agenda.

 B. Formal

 1. All pertinent information should be included in a memorandum to the HSC. The number of copies of all applicable material that should be submitted will be determined by the HSC Coordinator.

 2. If the opportunity to make an oral presentation is requested, the Chairperson will determine whether the presentation may be made at the meeting at which the written communication is to be considered or whether the question of an oral presentation will be decided after consideration by the full Committee.

 3. Each formal, written communication will be considered by the Human Subjects Committee in a convened meeting.

 4. Oral presentations should be limited to ten minutes or less if possible. Persons invited to speak at a convened meeting of the Human Subjects Committee will be notified of the time and place by the HSC Coordinator.

IV. Address and Telephone Number

Human Subjects Committee
Office of Research
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106

HSC Coordinator: Kathy Graham
Telephone: (805) 893-3807
graham@research.ucsb.edu