Tips for Human Participant Research Abroad

  • Before submitting a human participant research protocol for approval, consult with the Yale IRB for assistance with writing the informed consent document.  This is particularly important to consider for sites and populations who do not have a written language or have high illiteracy levels.
  • When writing your human participant research protocol, be sure you are crafting a culturally sensitive informed consent process that takes into account the diverse needs of the groups/individuals with whom you will be working.
  • When writing your human participant research protocol, be cognizant of subject payment methods, amounts, types of payments (trinkets, etc.) and what might be appropriate/inappropriate for your participant population.
  • Consider using available communication technologies (e.g., Skype) to allow for better collaboration with the local site or to help assist the local IRB to resolve any questions that arise.
  • Investigate alternative online human subject protections training options in foreign languages for international investigators and collaborators.  The Yale IRB and local IRB may be able to provide some ideas on what resources are available.  Also review the Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) training as a resource for modules in a number of foreign languages (https://www.citiprogram.org/irbpage.asp?language=english).
  • Be sure you understand what the local IRB requirements are for protocol approval, amendments, annual reviews, etc., in case they are different from Yale’s requirements.