Hot off the presses — we’ve just posted an update to the IRB’s basic protocol template. The only change this time was to add some language in the “Dissemination of Data” section. We’ve noticed a few people using this protocol template to create a protocol to upload to a human subject research determination form. (Thank you for that — while a protocol isn’t required on that form, it’s really helpful to have one!) Our old template talked only about using the study results for presentations, posters, or publications, and that text was rarely edited, even when disseminating the data to the larger academic community clearly wasn’t the project goal.
And, as always, if you’re drafting a protocol, please start with a fresh template, rather than trying to update a old protocol for your new study.