Institutional Review Board

Research projects are monitored by an institutional review board (IRB) in order to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects. This process involves submitting proper paperwork to the IRB, including your study design, protocols, consent forms, and other documents. Studies that involve vulnerable populations, such as minors, people with cognitive impairments, and prisoners, generally require additional paperwork and consideration. Research universities usually have institutional review boards. More than likely, you can utilize their services if you are working with a researcher affiliated with a university. Establishing an IRB for your own company may be possible, but will require the recruitment of qualified researchers and ethicists to contribute time to the review process. Following is a list of links to IRB information for various federal agencies and universities:

Department of Education

Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) Database

Health and Human Services

National Institutes of Health

National Science Foundation

University of Michigan

University of Virginia