CWRU Institutional Review Board

A component of the CWRU Human Research Protection Program is the CWRU Institutional Review Board, which reviews social, behavioral, educational, and low-risk biomedical research. 

The CWRU IRB must review and approve all human research conducted by faculty, staff, and students, which includes research conducted off-site when acting in connection with their University appointments or as University employees or students.

Research may be initiated in any University department at any of the CWRU colleges/schools: College of Arts & Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, School of Engineering, School of Law, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, and Weatherhead School of Management. 

The CWRU IRB also reviews biomedical research proposals that do not involve patients or employees at one of CWRU’s four Cleveland affiliated hospitals. 

The IRB reviews and oversees research to ensure that it meets ethical principles and complies with federal regulations, state laws, and University policies. The IRB is composed of members from various disciplines in the dental, medical, social, and behavioral sciences as well as community members.

To comply with the federal regulations regarding human study participants in research (45 CFR 46), the CWRU IRB must consist of at least five members. These members are appointed by the University Provost and aim, "...to promote complete and adequate review of research activities commonly conducted" at the University.

In addition to faculty members with expertise in scientific areas, the CWRU IRB includes at least one member whose primary concerns are in a nonscientific area. Also, at least one member must be from the community, and must not be affiliated with the institution.

The CWRU IRB may, in its discretion, invite individuals with competence in special areas to assist in the review of issues which require expertise beyond or in addition to that available on the IRB; these consultants, however, do not vote with the IRB.