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Utilize the "Customize Your Path" feature to refine the information displayed in myRESEARCHpath based on your role, project inclusions, sponsor or funding, and management center.

Stage
Disseminate and Close Out
Topic

Close out the project

Need assistance with closing out a project?

The closeout process involves closing out programmatic, administrative, and financial activities and typically includes all members of the research team - the investigator, scientific staff, and the grant manager. Ideally, closeout plans should be thought about from the beginning of the project, and should pay careful attention to the sponsor's and Duke's requirements.

Additional closeout considerations may be required if the investigator is leaving Duke or transferring to another institution:

Data and other research outputs

When a research project is complete, all primary data, code, software, and other research outputs should be curated for sharing in accordance with the funder, data provider, program, and institutional requirements, or for long-term archival. For studies involving human subjects or human data, this includes de-identifying all protected health information in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.

Secondary data should be deleted in accordance with the terms of any contracts or data use agreements that Duke signed on the researcher's behalf. Also, all compute and temporary storage resources may need to be de-provisioned or deleted once the curated outputs of the project have been archived.

  • For assistance, contact the research support office that signed the contract or agreement to obtaining the data, or contact the Research Facilitation & Data Services team for guidance or to be connected to the appropriate support office.
Regulatory closeout (IACUC, IBC, IRB, FDA)

IACUC

IACUC protocols do not require active animal use and will expire after approximately 3-years of approval. To close a currently approved protocol submit a protocol amendment indicating the request to close. For information on closing an approved IACUC protocol contact OAWA at IACUC@Duke.edu or 919-668-6720.

               

IBC

Contact the IBC at biosafety@dm.duke.edu to initiate a transfer of the protocol to another PI, or to notify them that the protocol will be closed.

If an IBC protocol has a corresponding IACUC or IRB protocol, the respective IACUC or IRB closeout procedures should be followed.

 

Campus IRB

Studies with a Campus IRB protocol that involve the collection of primary data are considered complete when participant enrollment and data collection are complete, and the data are permanently de-identified (identifying information and the key have been destroyed). Once the data are permanently de-identified, the researcher may continue to analyze the data, even after the protocol is closed, as this will no longer be considered research with human subjects. Contact the Campus IRB for any questions or to request to close a protocol.

If the researcher will be leaving Duke before the data have been de-identified or if access to the de-identified data is still needed, the protocol must remain open and be transferred to another Duke researcher. If transferring to another institution, a protocol must be created with the new institution’s IRB. If transferring institutions, data that are currently stored in a Duke environment will likely need to be moved to appropriate storage at the new institution. The specific IT support for the Duke platform or environment being used for analysis and storage can provide assistance.

Studies that involve analyses of existing data should comply with the terms of use agreed upon when receiving the data. Contact the Regulated Data Support Team for questions about compliance with data use agreements.

 

DUHS IRB

DUHS IRB protocols may be closed in iRIS after all of the following are complete:

  • All DOCR study closeout procedures have been completed.
  • All files and documents that relate to the protection of human research participants are appropriately stored and retained for at least six years following completion of the study, in accordance with the DUHS IRB Retention of Records Policy.
  • Primary data are appropriately curated and archived
  • If key personnel are leaving Duke or transferring to another institution and will need to retain access to the data, a data transfer agreement must be in place in accordance with DUHS IRB Policy.

 

FDA regulatory closeout

Projects that include an FDA regulatory application for an investigational product (drug, biologic, or device) will need to be appropriately closed out. Contact the Office of Regulatory Affairs and Quality at ORAQ@duke.edu for assistance with the FDA regulatory closeout process.

Animals, equipment, and controlled substances

Relocation, transfer, or disposition of animals

Contact DLAR at 919-684-2797 or LabAnimal DLAR Transfers (dlartran@dm.duke.edu) for more information on animal relocation, transfer, or disposition.

To change a non-centralized animal housing or use location on an IACUC protocol, submit a protocol amendment indicating the request for the new location(s).

 

Research equipment and supplies

All equipment purchased with grant, contract, or internal or discretionary funds are considered Duke property. Equipment that will be used for future research may remain in the laboratory or research space. Any equipment or supplies that are no longer needed at the conclusion of a research project should either be put in temporary storage if the investigator has needs for the equipment at a later date, or should be processed through the Duke Surplus Property Program.

Leased or rented equipment should be handled in accordance with any terms established upon setting up the agreement. Contact PlantAccounting@duke.edu for further assistance.

 

Controlled substances

Studies that involve controlled substances should follow the proper disposal procedures in accordance with the Duke guidelines for the use and management of controlled substances in research.

For additional guidance on controlled substance use and management, including close-out, contact OAWA at IACUC@Duke.edu or 919-668-6720.
 

Additional requirements pertaining to clinical research protocols

The following federal and institutional processes should be completed when closing out clinical research protocols. Additional tools and checklists for closing out a clinical research protocol are available in the "Related Resources" section of this page.
 

Clinicaltrials.gov

The ClinicalTrials.gov recruitment status should be updated within 30 days of the change in recruitment status as well as again within 30 days of completing data collection. If results are required, they must be submitted within 1 year of final data collection for the primary outcome.  All results should be entered and accepted by ClinicalTrials.gov prior to closing the study with the IRB. For questions or assistance, contact DOCR-ctgov@dm.duke.edu.
 

OnCore and Epic statuses

All participants should be in an inactive status (e.g., off study, ineligible) prior to submitting a final report to the IRB. The OnCore study status should be updated to “IRB Study Closure.”   

On a monthly basis, DOCR will review all protocols that have been closed in the IRB and complete the RSH record in Maestro Care if all participants are in an inactive status in both systems and the RSH005 is cleared of all charges.
 

NIH requirements

The investigator and grant manager should work together to complete all NIH closeout requirements. The following documentation is required to closeout an NIH award within 90 calendar days after the project period end date:

  1. Final Federal Financial Report (to be submitted by the Duke Office of Sponsored Programs)
  2. Final Progress Report
  3. Final Invention Statement and Certification

Closeout documents must be submitted via eRA Commons. More information about the financial closeout process can be found on the Award closeout page.

Financial closeout

Information about financial closeout of sponsored research projects is available on the Award closeout page.