The Institutional Review Board maintains ethical standards for research that involves human subjects and is an integral part of the professional process for the faculty and the University.
The function of this Institutional Committee is to formulate, recommend, and oversee policies and procedures for conducting research with human participants. The privilege of conducing human subject research is granted based on a responsibility to engage in ethical research, respecting the rights of participants, and acting in a manner that is consistent with the values of the University.
The following information is sourced from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
The IRB protects the rights, safety, and welfare of human research participants by:
- Reviewing the full protocols for planned research studies to ensure that, in its judgment, the research meets the criteria found at 45 CFR 46.111.
- Confirming that the research plans do not expose participants to unreasonable risks.
- Conducting continuing review of approved research at intervals commensurate with the degree of risk of the trial, but not less than once a year, to ensure that human participant protections remain in force.
- Considering adverse events, interim findings, and any recent literature that may be relevant to the research.
- Assessing suspected or alleged protocol violations, complaints expressed by research participants, or violations of institutional policies.
The Belmont Report is available online.
The IRB requires that any researcher submitting for review participate in an online training course offered by the National Cancer Institute. This online course if free and certifies that the researcher has completed training sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As of January 15, 2008, all students applying for approval of research will be required to complete the Human Participant Protection Education for Research Teams prior to submitting an application for review. Researchers will be required to submit a certificate of completion as part of their IRB application process.
Please visit the following link to access the training course: Human Participant Protection Education for Research Teams.
Alvernia University is committed to increasing the quantity and quality of research conducted by members of the Alvernia community. Research conducted at Alvernia should reflect our mission as well as the principles of academic freedom and the dedication to the pursuit of new knowledge. Alvernia University is committed to protecting and ensuring the rights, privacy, and welfare of those individuals participating in research projects conducted at our institution.