The goal of any community-academic research collaboration is equitable partnership. CIRTification teaches community research partners about the importance of protecting research participants while enhancing the overall contribution they are able to make to their respective research teams.

In community-engaged research, academic researchers collaborate with different partners from non-academic settings including community agencies, health care delivery organizations, public health departments and schools.

Due to federal and institutional policies, community research partners are often required to complete “human subjects protection training” (sometimes called “IRB training” or “research ethics training”). Training is usually required when individuals interact with research participants and/or handle research data.

However, most research ethics training programs are geared towards those who already have and understanding of research methods and some research experience; they do not address the unique context of community-engaged research. As such, these programs and materials may not be well-received by community partners.

CIRTification provides human research protection training that shares relevant, meaningful information to help community partners translate their unique knowledge and skills to research collaborations.

The program introduces learners to the basics of the research – the terminology, people, and methods. It also reviews the history of research abuses that has informed current ethical principles, rules, and regulations.

The training program also:

• Covers standards and best practices for
  • Recruitment and informed consent
  • Collecting and protecting data
  • Handling challenges that may arise during participant interactions
• Reviews the role of the institutional review board in protecting the right and safety of research participants
• Includes a dictionary of research terms and a toolbox with resources related to human research protections

CIRTification Online is available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. Simply access the training portal, enroll in CIRTification or login, and select the option to launch the course in your preferred language.

Learners complete a knowledge quiz at the end of the program and receive a date- stamped certificate of completion.

The program takes about 4 hours and can be completed in multiple sessions.