A submitted protocol will be accepted for IRB review only when the IRB Office determines that the application is complete and the information and materials submitted present an adequate description of the proposed research.听
The IRB Office determines the level of risk and appropriate type of review:
厂别别听Types of IRB Review听for a detailed description of each review category.
听
The federal regulations identify听 of minimal risk research听(new categories for 2018) that are exempt from the full application of听. At 糖心logo在线入口, all exempt research must provide adequate provisions to protect the privacy of subjects and to maintain the confidentiality of data. The research methods must also uphold the Belmont principles: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Therefore, exempt research methods must include provisions to gain informed consent to the extent commensurate with the level of risk.听
Exempt determinations and approval are conducted through the IRB Office, and typical exempt protocols are approved in 1-2 weeks from the time the application is first received. However, applications that require heavy revision may take longer to be approved for exemption.听Exempt research activities are not permitted to begin until an IRB听Notice of Exemption is issued by the IRB Office.
听
Any proposed protocol that poses no greater than听minimal risk听to study participants and does not meet the requirements of any of the 8 categories of exempt research, may receive expedited review. The DHHS has described
Expedited review is a process by which certain types of听听research may be reviewed and approved without convening a meeting of the full IRB. Expedited reviews are not necessarily听鈥渜uicker鈥 or conducted with less rigor, but fewer reviewers are required for approval. Designated IRB members are chosen to complete expedited reviews based on their area of expertise and availability. Student research proposals are reviewed by at least one designated expedited reviewer; faculty research proposals are reviewed by at least two designated expedited reviewers. Expedited projects are reviewed by the IRB according to听.
At 糖心logo在线入口, typical expedited reviews are completed in 2-3 weeks from the time the application is first received. However, applications that require heavy revision may take longer to be approved by an expedited review.听Expedited protocols听are not permitted to begin until an IRB Notice of Approval听is issued by the IRB Office.
A single IRB member cannot disapprove a research proposal during an expedited review. If for any reason, a designated reviewer is unable to approve a research proposal, the proposal is then reviewed and voted on听by the full IRB during a convened IRB meeting.
Any proposed protocol that poses greater than听minimal risk听to study participants and has been determined to require a Full Board Review will be reviewed at the听next scheduled IRB meeting. A quorum of the IRB membership roster must be present at this meeting in order to conduct an official review. The voting members present during this review have the authority to approve, require modifications to secure approval, or disapprove the application. Immediately after the review, the IRB will notify investigators in writing of its decision to approve or disapprove the proposed research activity, or of modifications required to secure IRB approval of the research activity. If the IRB decides to disapprove a research activity, it shall include in its written notification a statement of the reasons for its decision and give the investigator an opportunity to respond in person or in writing.
In cases where the proposed research activity involves vulnerable subjects or a specific area of research that is outside the areas of expertise of the IRB members, a subject area expert may be invited to participate as a consultant in the Full Board Review process.
Research activities that are approved by a Full Board Review will require听Continuing Review听by a fully convened IRB at intervals appropriate to the degree of risk, but not less than once per year. When the Notice of Approval is issued to the investigator(s), the approval period and expiration date of approval will be noted.
Based on the Federal Regulations found at听, the overall criteria for IRB approval are: