Human Subjects Research and the Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The 6VµçÓ°Íø IRB is committed to protecting the rights and welfare of all persons who participate in projects that are conducted under its auspices. This includes ensuring that research participants are fully aware of their rights and of the protections available to them. Further, the IRB is responsible for ascertaining that there is a balance between the potential long-term knowledge gained from any proposed research and any potential risk to the research participants.  Investigators who plan research involving human subjects that requires exempt, expedited, or full board review are required to submit their research protocol to the 6VµçÓ°Íø IRB for review.

The IRB Committee members include an Associate Dean of the College, faculty members from diverse disciplines, as well as a community representative. Researchers wishing to use human participants should notify the IRB Administrators at an early stage in the project design about the need for IRB review, for assistance, or to provide feedback.

Outside Purview of IRBExempt ReviewExpedited ReviewFull Board

Typically Includes

  • No Risk for Participants
  • No Public Dissemination
    • Class Projects
    • Research Practicums
  • Oral Histories
  • Databases
  • Quality Assurance Work
  • Most Applications
  • Minimal Risk
  • Adult Participants
  • 4 Categories:
    • Educational Settings
    • Tests, Surveys, Interviews
    • Benign Interventions
    • Existing Data Sets
  • Fewest Applicants
  • Minimal Risk
  • Adult Participants
  • 9 Categories:
    • Drugs or Medical Devices
    • Blood Samples
    • External Specimens
    • External Medical Procedures
    • Non-Research Specimens
    • Audio & Image Recordings
    • Behavioral Research
    • Follow-up on Prior Research
      • Completed or Ongoing
  • Some Applications
  • Greater Risk
  • Outside the 13 Categories (4 Exempt, 9 Expedited)
  • Illegal/Incriminating Activity
  • Vulnerable Populations
    • Prisoners
    • Children
    • Pregnant Women
    • Undocumented People
    • Victims of Trauma
    • Terminally Ill Patients
    • Impaired Individuals
Our Guiding Principles

We abide by principles put forth by the and the , which guide the Office of Human Research Protections at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Further information on human subjects research is available from

Further Information for Investigators Considering a Submission to the IRB