Institutional Review Board Protects Research Participants

All research involving people undergoes review by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). An IRB is an independent panel of diverse individuals, including community members and healthcare professionals, who review research studies to ensure studies follow federal guidelines. The University Hospitals IRB ensures that all proposed research aligns with UH policies, and state and federal regulations intended to protect research participants.

The Board promotes three primary tenets of ethical research – respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

The IRB is part of the University Hospitals Human Research Protection Program, an accredited program of the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. University Hospitals Human Research Protection Program is an accredited program of the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP).

IRB Community Members

The IRB, comprised of individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences, protects research participants by reviewing proposed research before implementation. IRB community members are an important voice in the IRB review process as they ensure all opinions are heard. A diverse community member perspective is needed to ensure that we acknowledge and consider multiple points of view when reviewing studies.

Qualifications

IRB community members cannot be employed or have immediate family members employed by University Hospitals or Case Western Reserve University. Community members must be willing and able to attend virtual meetings approximately twice a month. UH has multiple Boards that meet bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 3:30 pm (except holidays) or on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 2:30 pm (except holidays).

No specific background or education is required – just a willingness to learn and contribute to the conversation. Individuals selected to be members will need to spend about four hours in various training sessions.

To learn more or ask questions about joining the IRB, email UH IRB.