Part 1 – Introduction to the Board

The next modules deal with information pertinent to being a member of an Institutional Review Board. While many of these concepts will be familiar to you from previous modules, it is important to review them and reinforce comprehension. This module covers the roles of an IRB member and its structure and positions.

 

Expectations as an IRB member

As an IRB member, you are responsible for assuring and approving the ethical and legal integrity of all research an institute commits. This will require an intimate knowledge of the Belmont Report, human research laws at the institutional and federal level, and further, a sound judgment and the ability to identify risks involved with research.

In your duties you will be required to review research in areas you may not have experience in. In this circumstances, it is important to remember you are conducting review of the ethical soundness of the research itself, and give proper consideration to the expertise of those that are familiar in those fields. Also, it is important to continue to learn more about research ethics and IRB protocols on a continuing basis. Attending workshops, subscribing to email lists and publications on the subject and attending training are all good ways to do this.

As a board member you will be required to attend IRB meetings and discuss the study protocols submitted. This will oftentimes require review before the meeting itself as materials are sent out with the agenda. Further, you may be required to conduct partial review of studies (which will be outlined later), ask questions of a study’s PI to gain additional information and present summaries of certain studies to the board.

All members of the IRB have one vote and count towards quorum. Also, IRB members are allowed to have “alternate” members, who may attend if the member is unable to and share in their duties. However, of the member and their alternate, only one may vote during meetings.

All IRB members are expected to recuse themselves from votes that involve conflicts of interest, be they perceived or real. This includes studies the member is a part of, or is related to or financially involved with staff or institutions assigned to the study. When you are recusing yourself, you do not count towards quorum, which may put the board under the required amount: make sure to communicate to the Chair any expected conflicts of interest as far in advance as possible.