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About The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) was founded in March 2000 as a collaboration between the University of Miami and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to develop a web based training program in human research subjects protections.   In response to the June 2000 education policy announcement, the collaboration was expanded to include content experts from 10 institutions who provided the content for the first 12 biomedical modules.  In addition to the "Basic" content, the CITI model provides the opportunity for institutions to post additional instructional materials specific to their institution.  The first version of the CITI Course in The Protection of Human Research Subjects, hosted at the University of Miami, was rolled out to the participants on September 3, 2000.  In December 2000, the CITI Course site was made available to institutions by subscription.

In Spring 2004, the CITI Program was migrated to a new software platform developed at the VA by Mike Fallon, DVM, PhD, and Stephanie Manuel, MSME. In January 2007, with the help of Dr. Fallon and Ms. Manuel a software upgrade was implemented to permit the program to broaden it's scope and to expand the courses offered to our participating institutions and organizations around the world.

The CITI Program, co-founded by Karen Hansen and Paul Braunschweiger Ph.D, is now on it's 7th iteration and includes:

  • Basic Courses in the Protection of Human Research Subjects.
    • Biomedical Focus
    • Social and Behavioral Focus.
    • Refresher Courses
  • Good Clinical Practice Course.
  • Health Information Privacy and Security Course (HIPS)
  • Laboratory Animal Welfare Courses for investigators and IACUC Members
  • Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).

A multi-language site, targeting international researchers was made available at http://www.irbtraining.org in Fall 2004.  This multi-language capability has been added to the current CITI platform.  A Spanish and Portuguese language site will be added in November 2007.

As of October 2007, the CITI Program is used by over 830 participating institutions and facilities from around the world.  Over 600,000 people have registered and completed a CITI course. The CITI Program could not remain dynamic and responsive to the needs of our participants without the unselfish efforts of the CITI Developers Group. The Group meets semi-annually to review the courses, make editorial changes and to develop new initiatives for the CITI Program.    The CoFounders are provided guidance and advice from the CITI Executive Advisor Committee chaired by Ernest Prentice Ph.D.

Inquires about the CITI Program should be directed to the CITI Office at the University of Miami at 305 243-7970 or by email to citisupport@med.miami.edu.

Download a CITI Slide Show Presentation

Paul G. Braunschweiger Ph.D.
Professor, Radiation Oncology
Director, Office of Research Education
CITI Co-Founder

Karen Hansen
Director, Institutional Review Office
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
CITI Co-Founder

 

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