The Institutional Review Board: A Community College Toolkit

Dr. Geri J Anderson

Overview

• Why an IRB at Community Colleges• Overview of the IRB Design• Type of Research & Reviews• Where to Begin: Implementation of the IRB• The Research Proposal Process

History of the IRB

• The Belmont Report: Three Basic Ethical Principles• Respect for Persons• Beneficence• Justice

• Federal Regulations & Policy– 45 CFR 46-Basic DHHE Policy for Protection of Human Research

Subjects• Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects

– “The Common Rule” June 18, 1991• Food & Drug Administration

– 45 CFR 46-Basic DHHE Policy for Protection of Human Research Subjects

What is an IRB

• An Administrative Body Established to Protect the Rights of Welfare of Human Research Subjects Recruited To Participate in Research Activities

• Independent of Other Committees & Independent of the Needs of the Institution

• All Research Involving Human Subjects (or their records) Must Be Reviewed by an IRB

Duties of an IRB

• Review all research activities involving human participants and document the findings – Risks to subjects are minimized– Selection of subjects is equitable– Informed Consent is obtained– Privacy and confidentially is protected

• Responsible for ensuring compliance with FWA, federal regulations & institution policies

Additional IRB Duties

• Review research protocols with authority to:– Approve– Require Modifications– Deny– Terminate

• Conduct continuing reviews of approved research; review proposed amendments

• Ensure Progress Reports & Findings are provided

IRB Oversight

• Human Subjects Research–Review of records–Clinical investigations–New interventions

•Data Repositories•Case Studies•Internet Research•Pilot Studies•Non-human Subject/Non-research check

Composition of an IRB

Membership = 5 Members– Scientific Area– Nonscientific Area – External to the Institution– Institutional Researcher– Institution General Counsel – Diversity of Representation– Diversity of Gender

Other IRB Components

• IRB Members May Not Participate in Review of Their Own or Students’ Projects

• IRB May Seek Advice From Non-Member Experts• By Federal Definition, the IRB is a BOARD not an Institution

COMMITTEE• The Mission of an IRB is to Ensure the Protection,

Safety and Welfare of Human Subjects

The Bottom Line

No One Can Be Objective About Their Own Work People Underestimate The Risks Involved In Things in Which They Are FamilarPeople Overestimate The Benefit Of Things That Are Important To Them Protects Subjects & The Institution Ensures Research Is Shared

Establishing Your Institution’s IRB

Create Charter. Written Procedures & Operating Principles Establish Approval Process (& Forms) For Types of Review

Full ReviewExpeditedExempt

Training

IRB Decision Matrix BENEFICENCE JUSTICERisk/Benefit Analysis Subject SelectionExperimental Design Inclusion/ExclusionQualifications of PI Recruitment

Respect For PersonsInformed Consent Privacy & ConfidentialitySurrogate Consent Protection of Subjects

The Review Process

Proposal Submitted Review by

IRBNotification of Decision

Changes?Need

Additional Review

Annual Review

Required

Share Results of

Study

What Review RequiredFULL STANDARD REVIEW– More Than Minimal Risk

• Generally Invasive Studies– Requires Review & Approval (by Vote) of Full IRB– Should Be Reviewed Regularly

• Informed Consent (10th Grade Reading Level)• Research Design

EXPEDITED REVIEW– Very Minimal Risk– Non-Invasive– Study of Materials Collected For Non-Research PurposesEXEMPT– Surveys, Educational Tests– No Follow-up Needed– Important: Study done with minors, inmates or other special populations cannot be

exempt

Important Definitions

– Research: a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge

– Human Subject: a living individual about whom an investigator conducting research obtains• Data through intervention or interaction with the

individual• Identifiable private information

– Informed Consent: Not a single event or just a form—but, an educational process between investigator and the perspective subject

Informed Consent Elements

o Full Disclosure of the Nature of the Research & The Subjects’ Participation

o Adequate Comprehension on the Part of the Potential Subjects

o The Subjects’ Voluntary Choice to Participate

o Document Informed Consent and Assent In Accord With Federal Regulations and as Approved by the IRB

IRB Decision Matrix

Approval Without Any ChangesApproval Pending Minor ChangesTabled

major questions raised about the study design but study is believed to be worthwhile

Disapproved (rare)

Proposal Components

• An Application• A Consent Form• A Protocol• Training Completion Certificate for PI• Additional Supporting Documents (questionnaires, interview

questions, surveys)

IRB Training

It is a federal requirement that all institutions conducting federally-funded human subjects research provide proof of training in human subjects research protections

Investigators who conduct human subjects research that is exempt from IRB review MUST comply with the education requirement

• Basic Ethical Principles Underlying Research with Human Participants (The Belmont Report Guidelines)

• Federal Regulations for Protection of Research Participants

• History & Ethics of Research with Human Participants

Note: Completion of training must be documented and maintained for 3 years

Institution Designed Training

Training Options

The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Human Subjects Research Education Program through the University of Miami provides a comprehensive selection of educational modules that can be used to satisfy institutional instructional mandates

Modules include:17 basic modules focused on biomedical research 11 basic modules focused on Social and Behavioral research Continuing Education (CE) modulesCompletion Certificate Available

www.citiprogram.org

• Maintain Federalwide Assurance (FWA) and ensure compliance

• Develop & Implement human subject protection policies and procedures

• Conduct Required Trainings• Preside over IRB meetings & ensure the IRB carries out

duties appropriately• Review & Approve Protocol Submissions For Review• Notify Investigators/PI of IRB Decisions• Maintain IRB Documentation; Track Needed Updates

Suggested IRB Chair Responsibilities

Action Plan Review the OHRP Institutional Review Board Guidebook (

http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/) Establish Charter, Written Procedures & Operating Principles Recruit and train IRB members using federal guidelines (

http://ohsr.od.nih.gov/IRBCBT/intro.html) Design and Implement Training Program Establish Record Keeping Procedures

Thank You & Questions

For Sample IRB Charter, Forms, or Questions, please feel free to contact:

Geri J. Andersongerijanderson@gmail.com