Slippery Rock University Institutional Review Board
142 Patterson Hall
ph:724.738.4846 fax: 724.738.4857 irb@sru.edu
DO NOT begin your study until approval has been granted from the IRB. This is a violation of federal regulations.
CFR 45 part 46 - Regulations governing the IRB
What is the role of the IRB in Research?
The primary responsibility of the IRB is to protect the rights and welfare of the human participants in research investigations conducted by the University and by agents of the University. This protective role of the IRB has three components:
1) to assure institutional compliance with State and Federal Policy
2) to review proposed research involving human participants conducted, and
3) to conduct ongoing reviews of approved research investigations.
Terms to know:
Protocol - The documents submitted to the IRB for review. Includes the protocol application and a narrative explaining the research
Details regarding elements that must be included in all protocol narratives
Exempt - This is a level of review used to describe research that involves little to no risk to participants. If you submit this application, only one copy is necessary.
Expedited - This is a level of review used to describe research that involves minimal risk to participants. If you submit this application, submit 4 copies total. Expedited applications can be submitted at any time during the semester and a sub-committee of the IRB will review your application.
Full - This is a level of review used to describe research that involves greater than minimal risk to participants, deals with questions of a sensitive nature, or involves minors or other vulnerable participants will require a Full Institutional Board Member Review . This review occurs at monthly board meetings. See above for meeting dates and deadlines. If you submit this application, submit 12 copies total.
Informed Consent - This document informs potential participants about the research study and outlines what the potential participant can expect if he/she chooses to participate in the study.
Details regarding elements that must be included in all consent forms
Principal Investigator - (PI) is the faculty member, staff member or administrator at SRU who is primarily responsible for the research study being conducted involving human participants. The PI is responsible for submitting protocols in a timely manner. The IRB cannot rush approval for studies that are submitted without ample time for review. Allow one week for Exempt, one month for Expedited and consult the meeting dates and deadlines link for Full protocols.
