FAQ

Help Topics

General

What are the responsibilities of the different departments in the Research Division?

The Research Division is comprised of four departments:
  • Research Development – Helps faculty find funding opportunities and develop research proposals.
  • Sponsored Projects Administration – Helps faculty complete and submit proposals and administers the funded grants.
  • Research Integrity – Ensures that research involving human subjects, animals or biological or hazardous materials meets all federal regulations.
  • Technology Transfer – Helps faculty transfer inventions they created at Northeastern to the commercial market.

Preparing a Research Proposal

  1. What is a sponsored project?

    Sponsored projects are research, training, service and instructional projects involving funds, materials or other compensation from sources outside the University.

  2. Where can I find out about funding opportunities?

    Visit the Funding Opportunities page or contact the Research Development Associate at x5066.

  3. How can I obtain copies of program guidelines and forms for specific grant opportunities?

    Guidelines and forms are available on each federal agency’s website. Go to Funding Opportunities or contact a Research Development Associate at x5066.

  4. Where can I find help in preparing and writing a proposal?

    Go to the Faculty Research Guide or contact the Research Development Associate at x5066.

  5. How can I sign up for a Proposal Writing Workshop?

    Call the Research Development Staff Associate at x8770 to find out when the next workshop will be held and register for it.

  6. Who can help me prepare the budget for my proposal?

    The budget must be approved by the Division of Sponsored Projects Administration (DSPA) before the proposal can be submitted. Contact DSPA’s Pre-Award Team Leader at x5771 for assistance.

  7. What is a subaward or subcontract? Who can help me prepare a subaward/subcontract?

    Contact the Subcontract Administrator in DSPA at x2127.

  8. What are matching funds or cost sharing? Where can I find out information and help with meeting a matching fund requirement for my budget?

    Matching funds are money given by an agency to an institution with the expectation that the recipient organization will contribute a similar amount of funding.

  9. Where can I find the general information required on a proposal cover sheet?

    Go to the University Facts.

  10. What are indirect costs, also known as Facilities and Administrative rates? What is the Northeastern University facilities and administrative rate?

    They are listed on the Facilities & Administrative Costs & Fringe Benefits Rates document.

  11. What are the Northeastern University fringe benefit rates?

    They are listed on the Facilities & Administrative Costs & Fringe Benefits Rates document.

Submitting a Research Proposal

  1. How do I submit a research proposal?

    Visit the Faculty Research Guide to view the research proposal process or contact the Division of Sponsored Projects Administration Pre-Award Team Leader at x5771.

  2. Who should I contact for assistance with submitting a proposal electronically?

    The Proposal Submission Coordinator in Division of Sponsored Projects Administration at x8838.

  3. How can I access the Proposal Processing Form, required before submission?

    Click on the Forms and Policies page. The Proposal Processing Form must be filled out and signed by you, your co-PIs, your department chair, your college dean, and the Director of DSPA, before the proposal can be submitted, either in paper form or electronically.

  4. How far in advance should I submit my proposal for final approval and official submission by Northeastern University?

    There is a five-business-day minimum required for reviewing and processing proposals by the Division of Sponsored Project Administration and the Division of Technology Transfer. Dean's office approval is required prior to DSPA and DTT review, final signoff and submittal to the sponsoring agency.

  5. Can the same proposal be submitted to more than one sponsor?

    Yes. However, if you are awarded full funding from more than one sponsor for the same research, you can only accept one of the awards. If you receive only partial funding, it is possible to negotiate with another sponsor for additional funding. You are required to inform all potential sponsors that the same proposal has been submitted to others.

  6. Can I re-submit a proposal once it has been turned down by an agency?

    Yes, you are strongly encouraged by the agencies to resubmit after carefully reviewing the reviewers’ comments and responding to them in a new proposal. Chances for funding are greater the second time around. Contact DRD to review the proposal, the reviewer comments and strategies for a new proposal: Imeh Ebong, x8770; Horst Wittmann, x3836; Carolyn Futrelle, x5066.

Administering the Grant

(FAQ to come)

Research Integrity

  1. What is the Institutional Review Board?

    The Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews research with human subjects conducted by the University community or at the University. The IRB has four principal functions:
    • To ensure that participants are recruited equitably and that risks and benefits are fairly distributed;
    • To ensure that participation is voluntary and informed;
    • To assess the risks and benefits independently of the investigators who carry out the research;
    • To ensure that a study's promise for augmenting knowledge justifies the involvement of human participants.

  2. How do I know if I need to have my research reviewed and approved?

    Your project requires review and approval by IRB if your research involves using human subjects and
    • the research is sponsored by Northeastern University, OR
    • the research is conducted by or under the direction of any employee, agent, or student of Northeastern University in connection with his/her institutional responsibilities, OR
    • the research is conducted using any property or facility of Northeastern, OR
    • the research involves the use of Northeastern University's non-public information to identify or contact human research subjects or prospective subjects.
    • Note:Northeastern University IRB review and approval is required whether the research is conducted on or off campus, and in addition to any approvals obtained from other institutions.

  3. What is meant by a human subject?

    A human subject is defined in Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations Part 46 as a living individual about whom an investigator obtains either:
    • data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or
    • identifiable private information.
      (Private information includes information such as medical records, blood, urine, or tissue samples, diagnostic specimens, and DNA samples, even if you did not collect these materials.)
    Legal requirements to protect human subjects apply to a broader range of research than many investigators realize. Protections are required for research that uses:
    • Bodily materials, such as cells, blood or urine, tissues, organs, hair or nail clippings, even if you did not collect these materials.
    • Residual diagnostic specimens, including specimens obtained for routine patient care that would have been discarded if not used for research.
    • Private information, such as medical information, that can be readily identified with individuals, even if the information was not specifically collected for the study in question. Research on cell lines or DNA samples that can be associated with individuals falls into this category.

  4. How long will it take to get my protocol reviewed and approved?

    A minimum of three weeks is required for all protocol review. The nature of the research and the level of risk to human subjects will determine whether the protocol is classified as Exempt status, Expedited Review or Full Committee Review. Other factors involved in processing time include: clarity and completeness of materials submitted by the investigator, need for modifications or additional information, investigator time in submitting modification, need for site approvals, and the number of concurrent protocols undergoing review.

  5. I need my protocol approved right away, can it be "expedited"?

    Expedited doesn't necessarily mean "quick". Expedited review refers to a process of review for certain research that falls within categories established by federal regulations. If the Research Integrity Division determines that a protocol meets specific qualifications, that protocol will not require review by the full Human Subjects Research Review Committee. Instead, the proposed research may be reviewed and approved by the Chair of IRB.
    Research is eligible for expedited review if:
    • It presents no more than "minimal risk" to human subjects, AND
    • It involves only procedures in categories specified by federal guidelines.
    Expedited research still undergoes complete review and a minimum of three weeks is required. Investigators are responsible for allowing sufficient time for review.

  6. May I begin recruitment of subjects while approval of my protocol is pending?

    No. Full approval by DRI is necessary before any recruitment or enrollment procedures may begin.

  7. How long is an approval valid?

    The approval is valid for a maximum of one year. In certain cases, determined by IRB, the approval period may be shorter. Investigators are responsible for submitting their protocols for continuing review at least yearly or earlier as specified by NUIRB. Documentation is required to renew approval, to conclude a study, or to state the study never started.

  8. May I make changes to the protocol after it has been approved?

    Yes, BUT, prior to making any changes in the approved protocol and informed consent, you must obtain approval from NUIRB. Submit the request for modification in writing to DRI. Include the currently approved procedure, and the proposed modification. Make appropriate changes to the Informed Consent, if necessary, and submit the new Consent for approval as well. In making the change, consider whether the level of risk for the subject has increased. Identify the possible risks and any necessary follow-up in the Informed Consent. Depending upon the nature of the changes, requests for modifications are usually processed relatively quickly. Refer to the Policies for more information.

  9. What are the requirements for students conducting research?

    Student protocols must conform to the federal and university guidelines to which all research with human subjects applies. The protocol and informed consent must be reviewed and approved by the student’s faculty advisor prior to submission to the DRI. For all student research, the faculty advisor or instructor assigning the project is considered the Principal Investigator. The PI is responsible for ensuring that students and all personnel conducting the study adhere to university policies for the ethical conduct of the research and protection of participants.

  10. Whom do I contact when my proposal involves the use of animal subjects in research?

    Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine
    x3958

  11. Whom do I contact when my proposal involves the use of hazardous biological agents or radioactive material?

    Director
    Office of Environmental Health and Safety
    x2769