What is an IRB?
An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee responsible for ensuring the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research are protected. The IRB has the authority to approve, require modifications, or disapprove any research activities or protocols which involve the participation of human subjects, their information or biospecimens.
Before initiating any research involving human subjects, investigators must obtain IRB review and approval. This process requires the submission of the research proposal, along with all supporting documents and study materials, to the IRB for review. An IRB approval can only be obtained once the committee determines that the proposed research upholds the highest ethical standards, is methodologically sound, complies with both local and international regulations, and aligns with societal expectations for governing human subject research.
UDST Researchers seeking IRB approval can contact [email protected] for further information regarding the application process and necessary forms for submission.
To facilitate timely review and approval of your research, please ensure that you follow the application procedures and submit all required documents to the IRB as early as possible.
To ensure all researchers involved in human subject research are appropriately trained as per regulations, UDST provides courses on ethics and integrity through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).
It is mandatory for the research team applying for IRB approval to complete either the “Biomedical Research ” or “Social & Behavioral Research” human subjects course depending on the scope of your research.
To log in, register and enroll in CITI, please visit, https://www.citiprogram.org/
For more information on CITI training, please contact [email protected].