New to your IRB application: Research for Me @UNC

See below for important information regarding the addition of Research for Me @UNC to your IRB application

Research for Me @UNC is a new public engagement initiative comprised of a comprehensive study listing, educational and engagement material, and stories highlighting the impact of UNC research across North Carolina. It was created in response to an increasing desire to improve both the accessibility and transparency of the research conducted within the University and UNC Health Care System.

Additionally, the site will serve as a resource for the research community to discover potential collaborators, assess possible oversaturation on a population, and identify gaps when crafting proposals.

The addition of this question to the IRB application ensures that we are capturing and conveying the full portfolio of studies and is the first step as we work toward a robust resource for public and patient engagement.

To ensure that we are providing the public (and our own research community) with a comprehensive list, all teams conducting research with direct participant interaction will be prompted to submit either a “Core” or “Recruitment” listing via their IRB application. Core listings simply provide basic information (no contact information), while Recruitment listings provide extended participation, recruitment, and contact information.

As of November 12, 2019, teams will see this listing prompt at the time of any new application and for existing studies, during the next modification, review, or renewal. Entry of this information is required, but is only done once per study and will take 5-10 minutes; the return on the minimal time investment will help to build to a research culture of accessibility and public engagement. Listings will appear on the website when it goes live in 2020. Over the next year, we will continue to incorporate features which will expand both utility and convenience.

We understand that this new mechanism within your application will be an adjustment; we have worked to make it minimally disruptive to your existing workflow and will continue to welcome feedback about the process. You may find more information on our Introducing Research for Me @UNC and FAQ (this one requires login) pages to learn more about listing options and what this will mean for study teams.

Questions and feedback about the initiative and the IRB mechanism can be directed to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We look forward to working with and alongside all of you to expand awareness of and excitement about research!