University of Washington Health Sciences Research Studies Seeking Volunteers

Instructions for using the UW "Research Studies Seeking Volunteers" Website

(You may wish to print out these instructions so that you can follow them as you enter your study on the website.)

To enter your study description on the UW Research Studies Website, follow the three steps described below. Please read these steps carefully, including the "Helpful Hints" section. Then, if you have questions about how to enter your study description on the website, call Gigi Streidl at (206) 616-8289.

Step 1. Obtain IRB approval for your study description.

Before posting a study description on the website, you will need to obtain IRB approval. Please download, complete, and submit to the IRB the version of the "Study Description Template" (below) that best matches your word processing software. Further instructions for completing the Template will appear on your screen after you make the selection. Important: Please continue to read all three steps of these instructions before selecting a Template version.

• Template for Word 97
• Template for Word 6.0
• Template in RTF (rich text format)

After you select the Template version, the actual download process will vary, depending on your browser:

If using Netscape, you will likely be prompted to "Open" or "Save." Select "Open" if you are ready to fill out the Template now; select "Save" if you want to fill out the Template later.

If using Internet Explorer, the Template will probably load directly (without prompts). If you are ready to fill out the Template now, you may proceed to do so; if you want to fill out the Template later, choose "Save As." Another option for downloading the Template with Internet Explorer is to click on the correct Template version by using your right mouse button (not the left one you would normally use). Then select "Save Target As" and the Template will automatically be saved.

Step 2. Enter your IRB-approved study description on the UW Research Studies Website.

You will need a correct password in order to complete this step. If you have a password, you may go directly to paragraph 3 of this section.

If you do not have a password, go to the introductory page of the website at www.washington.edu/healthresearch/. At the bottom of the introductory page, click on "Staff Only." Select "Get Password" and fill out the computer request form for obtaining the password. Click "Submit." You will receive a "Password Request Successfully Submitted" message. You will receive the password within one business day.

If you have a password, go to the introductory page of the website at www.washington.edu/healthresearch/. At the bottom of the introductory page, click on "Staff Only." Select "Create Record" and enter the password.

A page entitled "Research Studies: Create New Record" will appear. Enter the text from your IRB-approved study description into this record. The IRB-approved Study Description Template will contain all of the information that you need for completing the record. When you have entered the information, click on "Submit." You will be prompted to correct any mistakes or to enter missing information. When you have completed the record, you will receive a "Record Submission Complete" message. This means that your record has been successfully submitted to the website.

Step 3. Send or fax a paper copy of the Study Description Template with the IRB "APPROVED" stamp to Gigi Streidl (Box 356340; fax 206-221-3911). This step is important. We can't post your study without having the approved copy.

Helpful Hints

• You will not be able to bookmark the password-protected page ("Research Studies: Create New Record") on which you created the new record. Therefore, you will need to repeat Step 2. for each new study description that you wish to post on the website.
  
  
• The password (see Step 2.) will be changed periodically and the instructions for posting a study description on the website may be updated from time to time. Therefore, if you bookmark this page (the one you are reading now), please remember to click on "Reload" or "Refresh" so that you will see the most recent instructions.
  
  
• If you want to change the text of a study description that you have already posted, send an e-mail message describing the change(s) to restudy@u.washington.edu. If the change requires IRB review, you will need to send Gigi Streidl (Box 356340) a paper copy of the IRB-approved revision.
  
  
• You will not be able to post a study unless your browser accepts cookies. This is the normal default condition, so very few of you will have a cookie problem. Those of you who do have a cookie problem will likely know who you are and how to fix it. If you do have a problem, check to see if your cookies are enabled or call your systems administrator.
  
  
• Please do not submit your paper copy of the IRB-approved "Study Description Template" to us until you are ready to receive calls from prospective subjects.
  
  
• The website should contain only those studies that are currently seeking volunteers. If you complete study enrollment earlier than expected, please send us a message at restudy@u.washington.edu, and we will delete your study description from the website.