110 CMR 16.04 - Procedures for Processing Research Proposals

(1) A researcher must contact the Department's Research Review Committee Chair to initiate a research proposal, who will provide the researcher with a copy of the Department research policy.

(2) Research proposals are initially reviewed by the Department for conformity with the following required components:

(a) A research proposal including at least the following:

1. objective(s) of research;

2. preliminary description of research methodology;

3. type(s) of data needed;

4. expected data source(s);

5. expected end-products of the research;

6. estimate of completion times for entire project and principal stages;

(b) letters of approval from the Department Area Director and/or Regional Director, when the research is anticipated to have an impact on staff or families in a participating Area and/or Regional Office;

(c) letters of support from other involved Department offices or units, agencies, residential facilities, institutions, or organizations, as available;

(d) resume(s) of principal researcher(s);

(e) description of any relevant institutional or organizational involvement;

(f) copies of University and/or Hospital Human Subjects Committee or Internal Review Board approval of project, if relevant;

(g) copy of informed consent form that meets Department approval;

(h) source(s) of funding for project;

(i) description of benefits expected to accrue to the Department's families, or staff, or to the management of service delivery;

(j) evidence that Department consent and confidentiality requirements will be maintained; and

(k) an estimate of staff time and/or other Department resources needed for the project.

Notes

110 CMR 16.04