Closing a Human Subjects Protocol

All Principal Investigators should notify OPHS within 30 days when their studies end. A study can be closed under the following conditions:

1. Data are no longer being collected and no further analysis is being conducted on collected data. If future data analysis will be or might be conducted, the study can still be closed provided the investigator submits a new protocol application before conducting further data analysis.


2. Data are no longer being collected. Data are still being analyzed but the data have been deidentified. For example, the code list linking subjects' identities to the data has been destroyed and there is no identifying information in the data set.


3. Data are no longer being collected. Subject identities are still linked to the data, but subjects were not promised confidentiality (e.g. some or all subjects agreed to be quoted by name).

If your study meets one of the above conditions, it can be closed. Simply complete the Final Report Form [PDF], save it, and email it to OPHS. The final report form is fillable and can be signed simply by typing in your name and date. If you are a student, both you and your advisor should sign the form.