The CITI is a new standard mandated by the Medical Research Center (MRC) to provide a safe research environment at HMC. As of 1 October, 2011 all HMC staff listed as investigators on a research protocol must have completed the CITI training before the protocol is endorsed and approved by HMC’s IRB (Institutional Review Board). The CITI program is a web-based international training course required for all investigators and key personnel doing research on human subjects or research involving animals.

All HMC investigators and non-HMC investigators conducting research under HMC must demonstrate and maintain sufficient knowledge of the ethical principles and regulatory requirements for protecting human subjects, through the completion and periodic renewal of the web-based human subject protection training called Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). This training must be completed prior to submission of all new human research study applications and maintained throughout the life of the study.