Description
The Institutional Review Board (IRB), or human subjects committee, is designed to protect the rights and safety of human subjects participating in biomedical or behavioral research. The IRB carefully reviews research proposals to independently determine that all studies meet strict ethical criteria. This board ensures institutional compliance with the National Research Act (Public Law 93-348), which is required to maintain federal funding for both research and student programs.
Key Features
- Ensures risks to research subjects are minimized and reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits.
- Verifies the equitable selection of research subjects.
- Confirms informed consent is appropriately sought and documented from each prospective subject or their legally authorized representative.
- Ensures research plans have adequate provisions for monitoring collected data to maintain subject safety.
- Protects the privacy of subjects and ensures the confidentiality of data.
- Provides additional safeguards to protect members of vulnerable populations (e.g., children, prisoners, pregnant women) from coercion or undue influence.
Eligibility
- Individuals, faculty, staff, or external researchers planning to conduct biomedical or behavioral research involving human subjects at Grand Rapids Community College.