CARAS Research Advisory Committee (RAC)

Information Sheet and Protocol/Project Submission Form

The CARAS Research Advisory Committee (RAC) is a community advisory board composed of representatives from alternative sexuality communities served by CARAS and scholars in the sciences and humanities. The RAC brings community members and researchers together to review research proposals for scientific/scholarly merit, ethics, and community benefit. After a proposal is endorsed by the RAC, CARAS will directly support the research by activating resources within subject communities to help with tasks such as outreach/publicity, recruitment, and community feedback.

The RAC review process provides a variety of tangible benefits. These include expert feedback on protocol design, analysis of ethical and regulatory issues to help prepare for IRB reviews, and access to the extended CARAS network of scholars, community leaders, and organizations.

Proposals need not be based in an academic or research institution to be reviewed by the RAC, but all proposals must provide a description of study objectives and procedures in sufficient detail to allow review by the committee. If applicable, formal CARAS endorsement is based on a final, IRB approved protocol. However, the RAC can conduct a preliminary review of a draft proposal and, if favorable, CARAS can be cited in a protocol/grant application as part of the recruitment plan and as evidence of community support for a proposed project.

How does the RAC review process work?

Investigators submit a written protocol or project description to the CARAS Research Support Program office. CARAS will conduct a administrative review of the proposal. Normally, proposals that are already IRB approved will be accepted for immediate review. If the proposal is incomplete or otherwise not ready for review by the RAC, a member of the CARAS Research Support Program staff will work with the investigator to prepare the protocol for review.

Once accepted for review, a committee composed of subject matter experts in relevant areas will meet to review the proposal. The committee will be composed of both academics and experienced community members. The RAC will evaluate the proposal to determine that it meets three criteria for CARAS endorsement: The written proposal must indicate that the study (1) has a sound research design; (2) will be ethically conducted, so that research subjects are treated with respect and protected from harms; and (3) offer some prospect of benefit to the communities being studied. Proposals that meet these criteria will be endorsed by the RAC. The RAC may offer recommendations to improve the research, or in some cases offer a conditional approval dependent upon completion of stipulations deemed necessary by the committee for the study to meet all three criteria for endorsement.


How long will the RAC review take?

The amount of time required for RAC review depends primarily on the state of the proposal when submitted. Complete protocols with a clearly written and sound research design should be reviewed by the RAC, with results provided to the investigator, between fifteen and thirty days following acceptance by CARAS. The process for proposals that require elaboration or revision prior to review by the RAC may be longer. In each case, a preliminary review by the Research Support Program staff will help increase the likelihood of endorsement by the RAC when the proposal is reviewed.

What happens after my proposal is endorsed by the RAC?

After the RAC formally endorses a proposal, CARAS will work with the investigator to help execute the project. For example, CARAS may contact organizations within a particular sexuality community to help enlist their assistance to recruit study volunteers, or assist with introductions and access to a particular group. CARAS support of a particular project will be tailored to the project’s needs.

Additional Notes and Caveats

RAC review services are available to current professional and student members in good standing. The legal name of the investigator will be used in all correspondence and announcements referencing the research. CARAS requires RAC endorsement prior to support of ongoing research using CARAS resources. If the proposed research cannot meet the three criteria for CARAS endorsement, the committee will formally decline to endorse the proposal. If declined, a revised proposal will be accepted for re-review only if it appears that concerns addressed in the initial review have been addressed. A summary of the result of formal RAC reviews will be posted to the CARAS website and accessible to the public. This summary will include the title of the project, the name and institutional affiliation of the investigator, the date of the RAC review, abstract, and the outcome of the review (endorsed or not-endorsed). CARAS invites and encourages students to use its services, but requires that academic advisors be informed about CARAS review of student proposals. Some services may require fees beyond the subscription fee in cases where tangible expenses are involved, but these will be discussed in advance with the investigator.

For further information, questions, and to submit a proposal for review, please contact:

CARAS Research Support Program
ATTN: RAC
PO Box 3835
Berkeley, CA 94703 USA / Email:
Voice: 510-919-4488

For more information, please contact the CARAS Research Support Program office via email or phone. Additional information is available at the CARAS website: http://carasresearch.org


CARAS Research Advisory Committee (RAC)

Protocol/Project Submission Form

INVESTIGATOR INFORMATION
Principal Investigator Name
Contact Information for RAC Correspondence
Department/Organization
Mailing Address Street / Suite/Apt/Room/PO Box
City / State/Province / Zip/Postal Code
Country / Phone / Email
Discipline (e.g., anthropology, psychology)
Is the Principal Investigator a current CARAS Member OR was the project referred by a CARAS organizational member? /  Yes  No
If referred, name of referring organization: ______
** If no, please attach a CARAS subscription form with payment.
Is this a student project? /  Yes  No
** If yes, please complete the Student Project Addendum
PROJECT INFORMATION
Title of Project
Funding source?
Is this project supported by funding from the United States Federal Government; for example, NIH, CDC, NSF? /  Yes  No Federal Funding
Estimated/Actual start date? / Estimated completion date?
Has data collection on this project begun? /  Yes  No
Age range of subjects/respondents: / Will minor subjects be included?
 Yes  No
Total number of subjects to participate in the study:
Subject Populations Addressed In This Project (check all that apply)
Sexual Orientation / Sexual Practices
 Heterosexual
 Gay
 Lesbian
 Bisexual
 Other
______/  BDSM
 Fetish (specify: ______)
 Non-Monogamy (swinging, polyamory, other ______)
 Other practices (describe below)
Data Collection Methodologies To Be Used (check all that apply):
 Individual Interview
 Group Interview
 On-line survey
 Written Survey /  Observation
 Ethnography
 Use of existing data, documents, or records
 Physical evaluation (specify: ______)
 Biological sample collection (blood, tissue, etc.) (specify: ______)
 Other ______
Please identify potential benefits for the subject community/population as a result of this research.
Please provide an abstract describing the project. The abstract should briefly summarize the project background, objectives, methodology, and potential benefit to the subject community. Please avoid technical terminology. The project abstract will be used for the RAC review, for reports, and dissemination to the public.
Will data collected allow subjects/respondents to be identified by direct or indirect identifiers? /  Yes  No
Has this project been reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB)? /  Yes  No
If YES, please note that a copy of the formal IRB determination letter must be attached to this application.
If NO, is there a projected date for IRB review? /  Yes Estimated Date______
Institution to conduct the IRB review:
______/  No, this project will not be reviewed by an IRB.
Please include a copy of the following (as applicable):
_____ The complete protocol/project description. If applicable, provide a copy of the current, IRB-approved version of the protocol.
_____ Informed consent documents (if IRB approved, provide the IRB certified/stamped version)
_____ Data collection instruments used, including survey and interview questions
_____ Subject recruitment materials, such as ads, flyers, email or letter texts.
_____ Institutional IRB determination letter
_____ Principal Investigator Curriculum Vitae

Please sign and date below. Your signature indicates understanding that all projects formally reviewed by the CARAS Research Advisory Committee will be publicly listed on the CARAS website. Please forward the complete form in Word format to , and also submit this signature page via mail, fax, or electronically as a scanned image via email.

Name / Date


Addendum for Student Projects

Your Information
Your home Institution / Department
Department Mailing Address / Suite/Apt/Room/PO Box
City / State/Province / Zip/Postal Code / Country
Type of Project: /  Undergraduate project/thesis
 Masters-level project/thesis
 Doctoral dissertation
 Other (Fill-in) ______
Your Academic Advisor’s Information
Name of Primary Academic Advisor (If a course project list the name of your instructor)
Institution / Department
Postal Address / Suite/Apt/Room/PO Box
City / State/Province / Zip/Postal Code / Country
Email Address / Voice Telephone / Fax

For students who are conducting research that will contribute to completion of an academic degree, CARAS will forward a copy of formal, written correspondence regarding CARAS reviews and support actions to the primary academic advisor.

Please sign and date below to indicate your authorization for CARAS to contact your academic advisor. Please submit this signature page via mail, fax, or electronically as a scanned image via email.

Name / Date

v. 27 March 2011