Institutional Review Board
Mission statement, application, and informed consent form:
The mission of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is simple—to ensure that human and animal subjects used in research are protected. The IRB is responsible for reviewing and approving all research with human and animal subjects conducted by faculty, staff, and students of Columbia College Chicago, when performed as part of their work or study at Columbia. The IRB reviews proposed studies to ensure that the dignity, rights, privacy, safety, and welfare of all actual and potential research participants are protected; provides reassurance to others that appropriate research activity is being carried out; and examines the method in which informed consent is to be sought.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services defines research as, "a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Activities which meet this definition constitute research for purposes of this policy, whether or not they are conducted or supported under a program which is considered research for other purposes. For example, some demonstration and service programs may include research activities."
Governing Principles
The IRB is guided by the ethical principles applied to all research involving humans as participants, as outlined in the report of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, the “Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research” (The Belmont Report). These principles are:
Beneficence—the benefits to the participant and importance of the knowledge to be gained outweigh the risks to the participant and merit a decision to allow the participant to accept these risks.
Autonomy—legally effective informed consent is obtained unless requirements for waiver of informed consent are met by appropriate methods
Justice—selection of participants is equitable and representative of the group that will benefit from the research
The Belmont Report was the first U.S. government publication to set rules for human subject research and is an essential reference work for IRB members. For more information on this report, please view this 9 minute video.
In addition, "Subpart A: Basic HHS Policy for Protection of Huaman Research Subjects," is the uniform set of regulations IRBs use to make decisions and recommendations.
Organization Structure
The Columbia IRB is housed within the Office of Academic Research, which is a unit of the Provost's Office. The Columbia IRB consists of seven voting members appointed by the Provost. The membership includes at least one member with a scientific backgroud, and at least one nonscientist. Three members are chosen from the full-time faculty; three members are selected from staff and administration. One member is chosen from outside Columbia College Chicago and maintains no formal affiliation with the College. The Director of Corporate, Foundation and Government Relations serves as an ex-officio and non-voting member. Members serve for three-year terms, which are staggered. These terms are renewable. The Assistant to the Associate Vice President for Academic Research and Dean of the Library, Michelle Ferguson, maintains all records, documentation, and assurance information and is the initial point of contact for IRB information and assistance.
Currently serving on the IRB are:
Jo Cates (Chairperson), Lenore Hervey (Vice-Chairperson), Keith Cleveland, Rebecca Courington; Laura Downing, Brigitte Erbe (Roosevelt University), Ray Kovach (Ex-Officio), Constantin Rasinariu, and Heather Minges Wols.
For more information on the IRB process at Columbia College Chicago please refer to materials above as well as Columbia's Policy to Protect Human Subjects and Animals, the IRB Application, and Informed Consent Template.