J. Dennis Blessing, PhD, PA-C
Chair, Research Review Subcommittee

The policy of APAP and the APAP Research Institute is that all research surveys intended for completion by PA programs, faculty, and students be submitted to the institute’s Research Review Subcommittee for review and preapproval. The committee’s members are PA faculty experienced in research design and methodology. The purpose of this approval process is to ensure the scientific quality of studies and the appropriateness and applicability of investigations, and to prevent redundancy in materials that go to programs, faculty, and students.

Surveys submitted for review must include the following:

1.	Names, degrees, affiliations, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of all investigators. If the principal investigator is a student, the supervising faculty member must be identified with the above information.
2.	A brief description of the project that includes
	a. A statement or discussion of the problem with background or literature review
	b. The research question, hypothesis, or null hypothesis
	c. Methodology
	i.	Description of sample and selection
	ii.	Test instrument or intervention
	iii.	Data analysis
3.	A timeline for the investigation
4.	The intended use of the results (i.e., poster, publication, thesis, etc.)
5.	If approval by an institutional review board (IRB) or similar authority is required at the investigator’s home institution, a statement that approval has been given or is pending must accompany the request for review. If there is no requirement for such approval, a statement that no IRB approval is needed must accompany the submission for review.

The Research Review Subommittee responds to requests within 10 working days after receipt of requests. Commentary will be provided if requested. Following approval and before distribution, a statement should be inserted into the study's introduction that APAP Research Review Subcommittee approval has been granted. Requests for approval of studies should be sent to me at blessingd@uthscsa.edu.