Institutional Review Board

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee charged with protecting the rights and welfare of people participating in research activities. 

The IRB reviews and approves research applications involving human subjects, provides ongoing oversight to ensure regulatory compliance, and assures that the risks to research subjects are minimized and participation by these subjects is done so on a voluntary, informed basis.

Both the Food and Drug Administration and the Office for Human Research Protections set the guidelines and regulations governing human subject research and establish the authority granted to the IRB. The IRB highly encourages all investigators, coordinators, sponsors, and research volunteers to contact the IRB for questions, advice, or concerns at any time. Any questions, concerns, or suggestions will be responded to in a confidential and professional manner.