HPU Institutional Review Board

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The IRB reviews and approves all research involving the use of human subjects. Research can begin after the IRB approves the project (non-exempt) or verifies it as exempts from further review. The review of a protocol application typically takes three weeks. The IRB will not approve human subjects’ research retroactively, after data has already been collected.

Does My Research Require Review?

The scope of the IRB’s charge is broad. Generally, any research that uses humans, human tissue, surveys or interviews of human subjects, or human subjects’ records requires IRB review, regardless of its funding source.

Research is defined as “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.” This definition includes preparation of study materials as well as the study itself. If the knowledge gained will be shared publicly in any way, it is subject to IRB review (in-class discussions would not need to be reviewed).

Human subject is defined as “a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting the research

1. obtains information or biospecimens through intervention or interaction with the individual, and uses, studies, or analyzes the information or biospecimens; or
2. obtains, uses, studies, analyzes, or generated identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens”.

The Common Rule specifically excludes certain types of investigations from the definition of “research,” including oral history, journalism, biography, literary criticism, legal research, and historical scholarship that focuses directly on the specific individuals about whom the information is collected.

To get started, you must complete the appropriate Human Subjects Training courses through CITI and complete an application in our online system Cayuse.

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Kimberly Wear Jones, IRB Chair.