Institutional Review Board

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Northwestern Health Sciences University reviews research involving human subjects to ensure that subjects are not placed at undue risk and that they give uncoerced, informed consent to participate in the research.

Mission

The primary mission of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to assure that, in research involving human subjects, the rights and welfare of the subjects are adequately protected. To achieve this mission, the IRB will:

• Ensure that investigators have designed their research projects to minimize potential harm to human subjects
• Review all planned research involving human subjects prior to initiation of the research
• Approve research that meets established criteria for protection of human subjects
• Monitor approved research to assure that human subjects are protected
• Inform and assist Northwestern Health Sciences University and its researchers on ethical and procedural issues related to use of human subjects in research
• Ensure compliance with federal regulations

The IRB is authorized and organized to review any and all types of research in which human subjects are involved, including projects that are not subject to federal oversight.

About the IRB

• IRB Members
• Contact the IRB
• IRB Definitions
• IRB Operations and Recordkeeping

IRB Review

• IRB Application Forms
• Which Form to Use
• Submission and Meeting Dates
• Reporting Unanticipated Problems

Guidance

• IRB Guidance for Researchers
• Research Involving Human Subjects: What You Should Know
• Human Subjects Protection Education
• External Resources