Welcome to the Office of Human Subjects Research

What is Research?

According to 45 CFR 46.102(d), research is defined as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.

Any project fitting this description is subject to review and regulation by the University of New Orleans IRB.

Human subjects review is designed to protect both participants in research as well as the researcher by ensuring ethical reasearch design and practice. All research activities involving the use of human beings as research subjects (participants) must be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Even though investigators are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the rights and the welfare of human subjects participating in research activities are protected, and that the methods used and information provided to gain subject consent are appropriate to the research, the IRB process assists investigators in this responsibility. For this purpose, investigators may not solicit subject participation or begin data collection until they have received written approval.

IRB Application Review Process

IRB approval is required before research can begin (including recruitment) and before proposals are submitted to any funding source. Studies which qualify for approval under expedited review or exempt status are thoroughly reviewed by the IRB Chair. Those protocols determined to require review by the full IRB will be scheduled for the next regularly scheduled IRB meeting. The primary investigator of a study may be required to attend such meetings.

IRB Meeting Dates and Application Deadlines

Proposals requiring full review are reviewed once per month, typically on the seond Friday of the month. To be included on the agenda, proposals requiring full review must be received by 4:30 PM on the last day of the previous month. For example, proposal must be received by 4:30 PM on October 31 to be on the agenda for the November meeting. Proposals eligible for expedited or exempt review are reviewed as they are received.