Gallaudet University

Contents

What is Human Subjects Research?

What is the Institutional Review Board?

Who is on the Board?

Application

What is Human Subjects Research?

From the DHHS Office for Protection from Research Risks

What is the Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee designated by an institution to review, approve, and conduct periodic review of research involving human subjects. The primary purpose of such review is to assure the protection of the rights and welfare of the human subjects.

IRBs have been implemented around the world to prevent unethical treatment of human subjects. IRBs in the United States were established as an outcome of Senate hearings (1972) and legislation passed in 1974. Currently, the federal government regulates IRBs.

The IRB's role at Gallaudet extends to all research involving human subjects whether conducted by faculty, staff, graduate students, undergraduate students, or non-Gallaudet researchers. ALL research projects involving human subjects or information previously obtained from human subjects must be submitted to the IRB before recruitment of subjects begins. The purpose of the IRB is to inform and protect human subjects used in research. The IRB acts as an advocate for the research subject. This means that the IRB, during its review of a research project and the informed consent, has the right and responsibility to ensure that the research subject is fully informed of the procedures involved in the study as well as the risks.

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Who is On the Board?

The Gallaudet Institution Review Board currently has 18 members, representing various components of the Gallaudet University campus. There are 3 community members and a graduate student on the board. There are two staff members of the board who do not vote during meetings.

The Gallaudet IRB office is located at:

David R. Penna, Ph.D. is the Chair of the IRB and he can be contacted at:

Sally Dunn is the IRB Coordinator and she can be contacted at:

Jennifer Reesman is the Graduate IRB Assistant and can be contacted at:

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Application

Application Instructions

You can download an application and mail or fax it to the IRB office along with your proposal

if you are an off campus person you will need a sponsor to sign your application.

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Helpful Links and Resources

The University of Minnesota's Informed Consent tutorial

The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP)

OHRP Tips On Informed Consent

OHRP Informed Consent Checklist

The Food and Drug Administration Guidance for IRBs

Applied Research Ethics National Association (ARENA)

Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R)

MCWIRB - a discussion group for IRB administrators
 

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