March 28,
2007
Dear
Investigators,
In order to
demonstrate our commitment to protecting sensitive information
(including veteran’s personal identifiers, and health information),
we are now required by the Deputy Under Secretary for Health
Operations and Management (DUSHOM) and Chief Research and
Development Officer (CRADO) to have each principal investigator with
active research studies do the following:
-
Review the
attached documents thoroughly.
-
Print,
complete and submit both of the following documents
(found in the attachments above) no
later than April 15, 2007 to Rebecca L.
Gloria in the Research Office for each active research
study:
 |
Data Security Checklist for Principal Investigators (Appendix
C) and |
|
Principal Investigator’s Certification: Storage & Security
of VA Research Information (Appendix
D) |
Please include the
research study title and MIRB number on each form.
(For
your convenience, an email with this information will be emailed to
you).
3.
Complete (and ensure that all members of your
staff complete) the new
VA
Research Data Security & Privacy course
(click
on this link
for instructions)
no later than May 12,
2007.
NOTE:
The
Principal
Investigator’s Certification: Storage & Security of VA Research
Information (Appendix
D) will need to be completed and submitted to
the Research Office by April 15th annually
thereafter for each active project.
For all
new research protocols, the Principal Investigator must submit
the Data Security Checklist for Principal Investigators (Appendix
C) and Principal Investigator’s Certification:
Storage & Security of VA Research Information (Appendix
D) along with initial project submission
documents to the Research Office. Submissions not including
these two items will not be accepted and this is effective
immediately.
Due to the
importance of this issue and timeframe for certification and
training, the deadlines provided above are firm. Those PIs who do
not submit the above listed documents by close of business on these
dates will be referred to the ACOS/R&D.
We appreciate your
cooperation with this important certification process and invite you
to contact the Research Office with any questions you may have by
calling extension 5801.
Thank you,
Deborah Ludke
Acting Administrative Officer, Research and Development
Human Research Protection Program Officer
Department of Research and Development
