Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research

All persons conducting research involving human subjects have an ethical, as well as professional, obligation to ensure the safety, protection, and rights of participants.

The USI Institutional Review Board, or IRB, is a standing university committee established under federal regulations to protect the rights and welfare of all human subjects who volunteer to participate in research studies conducted by USI-affiliated personnel (faculty, staff, and students). The IRB is responsible for reviewing all proposed research studies and related activities involving human subjects. 

All investigators, even those exclusively using existing or secondary data, must complete an application, submit it for review, and receive approval before any research procedures can begin. Existing or secondary data that has already been collected for either research or non-research purposes can be used, but is subject to the regulations in 45 CFR 46 (known as the Common Rule. View the Office of Human Research Protection webinars for more information).

The IRB is additionally responsible for determining any violation of research activities, risk to human subjects, and compliance with federal regulations.