International Research

Research conducted by University investigators in foreign countries remains under UNLV purview and guidelines.

While we cannot impose our standards for written documentation on other cultures, we do not relax our standards for ethical conduct of research or for a meaningful consent process. Special attention should be given to local customs and to local cultural and religious norms in drafting written consent documents or proposing alternative consent formats.  In some instances it may be appropriate for the IRB to waive some or all requirements for written consent.

Research proposals for which this may be reasonable should include explanations of cultural norms or conditions requiring such a waiver (i.e. societies where no written language is used, societies where signatures represent the surrender of spirit or soul to the researcher.)  Research projects should have been approved by the local equivalent of an IRB before they are presented to the UNLV IRB. Where there is no equivalent board or group, investigators must rely on local experts or community leaders to provide approval. The IRB may require documentation of this "local approval" before it gives approval.

NIH international research resources