Cindy Brantmeier, Professor of Global Studies and Applied Linguistics, has been reappointed for another three-year term as Faculty Fellow for International Research for both the School of Medicine and the Danforth Campus. Brantmeier was first appointed to this inaugural role in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) in 2019.
Over the past six years, Cindy has led research teams in developing key initiatives, including pre-submission guidelines for research involving human subjects in both clinical and non-clinical settings. These guidelines ensure compliance with university policies as well as international regulatory requirements. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served on committees advising university leadership on emerging challenges affecting international human subjects research. For the past three years, she and Jeanne Velders, Executive Director of HRPO, have co-chaired a university-wide committee focused on policies related to regulations such as data sharing and cultural review processes. Her ongoing collaboration with HRPO provides invaluable support for the IRB review of global research.
Beyond policy development, Brantmeier actively engages with faculty, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates across campuses, offering guidance on the IRB process. She also delivers talks and provides individualized support on navigating the complexities of international research, including identifying appropriate translators and cultural reviewers, understanding country-specific regulations, handling consent forms and data storage, and conducting research in regions without institutional review boards or equivalent ethics committees.
Johnnie Cartwright, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Chief of Staff, shared:
“It has been a true pleasure working with Cindy, and I am thrilled that she will continue in this critical role. Her contributions have significantly advanced global human subjects research at WashU in ways we couldn’t have imagined when this position was first created. Thank you, Cindy, for your invaluable work.”
Brantmeier, now in her 25th year at the university, is an expert in international IRB research protocols. She has been a member of or led global research teams who conduct studies with linguistically and culturally diverse populations in countries including Nicaragua, China, Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile, Spain, Malaysia, England, Norway, Ghana, Taiwan, and France. Her work spans laboratory-based language acquisition research and studies examining communication in healthcare settings with diverse patient populations.
“Protecting the rights and welfare of linguistically and culturally diverse human subjects in research, while advancing science, has always been deeply important to me,” Brantmeier said. “At WashU, we have outstanding institutional support systems that promote research integrity, and I am honored to continue partnering with the OVCR and our exceptional global research community.”
Brantmeier holds meetings at her Danforth Campus office in 248 McMillan and regularly travels to the Medical Campus to meet with faculty.
