University Research Policies

All W&L faculty applying for federal funding must complete required online training modules via CITI. For specific training questions, please contact the Assistant Provost of Accredidation and Institutional Research.

Each investigator involved in sponsored research must complete the appropriate disclosure form(s) prior to submitting an external proposal and prior to joining certain ongoing research projects.

Faculty engaged in research will adhere to the highest professional standards in the execution of their work and in the reporting of results. This policy applies to allegations of research misconduct (fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results) involving a person who, at the time of the alleged research misconduct, was employed by, was an agent of, or was affiliated by contract or agreement with W&L.

Institutional Review Board for Research with Human Subjects (the University’s IRB) is composed of four members of the Washington and Lee community and one non-institutional member. The primary purpose of the committee is to assure the protection of the rights and welfare of human research subjects according to federal and state regulations and guidelines. The committee will review institutional or university faculty research proposals which would involve the use of human subjects and assure their compliance with appropriate protocols.

All research involving human participants that is conducted by Washington and Lee faculty members and students must be reviewed by the Institutional Review Board for Research with Human Subjects (IRB). The primary purpose of the committee is to assure the protection of the rights and welfare of human research subjects according to federal and state regulations and guidelines. The committee will review institutional or university faculty research proposals involving the use of human subjects and assure their compliance with appropriate protocols.No matter how seemingly benign, the proposed research project must be reviewed by the IRB before relevant work commences. The IRB is available to consult with faculty, staff, or students in the early stages of project development regarding the review process and categories of review.

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is charged with creating and monitoring protocols for all research and instructional use of vertebrate animal species.

Washington and Lee University has signed the Uniform Biological Materials Transfer Agreement (UBMTA), which is maintained by the Association of University Technology Managers. The agreement, list of participating universities, and the “implementing letter” to be used to formalize safe and responsible transfers and use of biological materials can be found via the link in this section. Faculty and others at W&L intending to send or exchange biological materials should use the UBMTA implementing letter even if the recipient has not signed the agreement.