IRB — Humanitarian Research Toolkit

What is the IRC Institutional Review Board?

The purpose of the IRC Institutional Review Board (IRB) is to **protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects enrolled in research** conducted by, or under the direction of, the IRC. If you are unsure if your study qualifies as human subjects research, contact humansubjects@rescue.org. Please note that the IRC IRB does not review external studies.
The IRC IRB also provides light-touch ethical reviews and approvals innovation/design research.
**To submit a study** protocol to the IRC IRB, submit required forms and documents at **humansubjects@rescue.org**. To check which documents are required for different types of studies, see **scenarios** below.
The IRB meets on a monthly basis. Meetings take place every fourth Tuesday of the calendar month. Studies are administratively reviewed on a rolling basis. The **deadline** for submission to the IRB for full board reviews is the second Tuesday of the month.
**Download:** 🔗 2022 Schedule of Full Board Meetings and Submission Deadlines: **PDF**↓
🔗 2023 Schedule of Full Board Meetings and Submission Deadlines: **PDF**↓

Scenarios: how can we help you?

Situation 1 answer:

IRB review and approval are required for studies that meet the definition of human subject research. Not every study meets the criteria of human subject research. While some projects require IRB approval and others do not, all studies should comply with principles of ethical research.

To learn more download this document:

🔗Scenario 1: DOC↓

Situation 3 answer:

You can seek the support of the IRB whenever you have questions about ethical and risk aspects of your activities, throughout the project cycle. You should also contact the IRB whenever there are changes to the approved activities or when something ‘goes wrong’.

To learn more download this document

🔗Scenario 3: DOC↓

Situation 2 answer:

The IRC IRB offers a staged review process for studies conducted in acute emergencies. The IRC defines emergencies as emerging humanitarian situations in which there is a significant deterioration in context. The “acute phase” is immediately after the beginning of the crisis, within 90 days.

To learn more download this document

🔗Scenario 2: DOC↓

Situation 4 answer:

For any questions about research ethics and risks, contact the IRB Administrator at humansubjects@rescue.org

You can also review documents in the IRB process overview section as well as this document:

🔗Scenario 4: DOC↓

IRB process overview

🔗 **IRB Procedures Guide for Researchers:** DOC↓
🔗 **Human Subjects Research Definition** DOC↓
🔗 **IRC IRB Initial Application Form:** DOC↓
🔗 **IRC IRB Modification Request Form:** DOC↓
🔗 **IRC IRB Continuing Review Request Form:** DOC↓
🔗 **IRC IRB End of Study Declaration Form:** DOC↓
🔗 **IRC IRB Reportable Form:** DOC↓
🔗 **Innovation Ethics Review Form:** DOC↓
🔗 **IRC IRB Procedures Manual:** DOC↓
🔗 **Clinical Trial Guidance**: DOC↓

What does IRC IRB review?

The IRC IRB reviews studies that meet the federal definitions of “human subject” and “research.”

Human Subject is “a living individual about whom an investigator conducting research obtains data through intervention or interaction with the individual or identifiable private information.”

Research is “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.”

Is there a fee for IRB reviews?

To ensure the sustainability of ethical review and approval services at IRC, we charge the following fees. Please contact humansubjects@rescue.org for more details.

· For human subjects research studies requiring full board or expedited review: $1200

· For human subjects research that fall into an exempt category: $500

· For innovation studies: $300

How long do IRB approvals last?

Typically, studies are approved for a maximum of one year from the date of approval. However, the approval period may be less than one year if deemed necessary by the board, typically if the study is considered higher risk.

If it has been determined by the IRB Chair that your study poses no more than minimal risk for subjects, your study will not need to go through a continued review after the initial expedited review, unless the IRB finds and documents the need to require a continuing review to enhance the protection of research subjects.