About

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) review research projects (also called protocols) involving the participation of human subjects to ensure that regulatory requirements for the conduct of research are met, these include but are not limited to; that risks to research participants are minimized, that risks are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits, and that informed consent will be sought. In addition to ensuring that regulatory criteria are met, the IRB and Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) are charged with ensuring that the conduct of research is consistent with ethical principles (e.g., Belmont Report). IRB members may be asked to serve on sub-committees tasked with the development of university policies and procedures related to the conduct, oversight or review of research.

IRB Members may also be asked to participate in oversight activities, including investigations of non-compliance or other “for-cause” investigations as well as routine not-for-cause quality assurance activities such as “Post Approval Monitoring” (PAR). WSU has two IRBs, one that meets throughout the year and one that convenes only for urgent/emergent reviews or compliance issues.