Institutional Review Board

Institutional Review Board

Bryan College’s policy on activities involving human subjects is to fully comply with regulations of the Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and to implement the principles outlined in the Belmont Report.

At Bryan College (BC), all human subjects research activities come under the purview and oversight of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), irrespective of whether the research is funded or non-funded, minimal risks or more. The human subjects policies apply to all BC affiliated faculty, staff, and students conducting human subjects research on or off-campus (domestic or international sites) as well as visitors conducting research at BC.

The IRB is charged with protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research.  IRB members are appointed by the Vice-President of Academic Affairs on the recommendation of the Chairperson of the IRB. The IRB Chairperson is appointed for a three-year term to maintain continuity. IRB members are appointed for two-year terms and include faculty with expertise in various disciplines engaged in human subjects research. All members, whether regular or alternate, have full voting rights.  No IRB members participate in the review of any study on which they are a principal researcher or co-researcher.

The Chairperson of the IRB conducts an orientation for new members which includes review of relevant materials provided (Belmont Report, federal regulations, college policy, IRB guidelines), and details concerning committee function and procedures.

The IRB may, at its discretion, invite individuals with competence in special areas (consultants) to assist in the review of complex issues that require expertise beyond, or in addition to, determining research eligibility at BC or for BC faculty, staff, and/or students conducting research.  The consultant does not take part in voting. Similarly, researchers may request, or be invited, to attend IRB meetings to clarify issues concerning their proposed research activity.  These researchers do not take part in committee deliberations or voting.

Committee decisions are reported to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs.

Correspondence to the IRB should be directed to:

Institutional Review Board
Dr. Pamela Giles, Chairperson, IRB
Bryan College
721 Bryan Drive
Dayton, TN 37321
pgiles4652@bryan.edu

Instructions

Before contacting any Human Subjects or beginning data collection, researchers will apply to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Bryan College using the process described here. Researchers are not allowed to contact Human Subjects directly, collect Subject data, or use Subject data until IRB Approval is received.

If you have any questions regarding the process, please contact Dr. Pamela Giles.

Complete your Human Subject Training.

Complete the IRB Application located here.
*Note – the IRB Application is an online form with multiple sections/pages and requires you to upload several files. You may want to download/print a blank PDF copy of the application to better prepare.

Your application will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy. Revisions – if any – will be requested.

Once your application is deemed complete it will be officially reviewed by the IRB Chair and/or their designee.

The IRB Chair will notify you if/when your application is approved, or if further revision are required.

Once you have received notification that your IRB Application is approved you may begin your research.

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