Institutional Review Board ( IRB)

 

Safeguarding the rights and welfare of humans in research is a general institutional policy of Oregon State University, with oversight delegated by the Vice President for Research to the Institutional Review Board (IRB), as mandated by federal regulation (45 CFR 46.103(b)(2)). The OSU IRB is charged with the responsibility of reviewing, prior to its initiation, all research (whether funded or not) involving human subjects. The IRB is concerned with justifying the participation of humans in research and protecting their welfare, rights, and privacy.

The IRB has the authority to approve, require modifications in, or disapprove all research activities that fall within its jurisdiction as specified by both the federal regulations and local institutional policy.

The IRB shall have at least five members of varying backgrounds in order to provide complete and adequate review of human research and its institutional, legal, scientific, and social implications. The Board will also include at least one member from the local community and one member who is not a scientist. The IRB has several Special Advisors who advise the Board and are periodically involved in protocol review.