Welcome to the UAB Office of Institutional Review Board
The UAB Institutional Review Board for Human Use (IRB) is a committee established under federal regulations for the protection of human subjects in research (45 CFR 46). Its purpose is to help protect the rights and welfare of human participants in research conducted under the auspices of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The guiding ethical principles of the IRB - respect for persons, beneficence and justice—are embodied in the “Belmont Report”: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research (The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, April 18, 1979).
Impact At A Glance
12,1682020 Submissions & Continuations4,692 Active Protocols49Committee Meetings3 Number of Committees
University policy requires that all research involving human subjects be reviewed and approved by the UAB IRB before the research begins. This requirement applies to all human subjects research conducted by faculty, staff, and students, on- and off-campus, regardless of funding. Research involving human subjects includes the collection of data about or from human subjects and the use of existing data or specimens. Any changes to an IRB-approved project must be reviewed and approved by the IRB before they can be implemented. Continuing review is also required at regular intervals for protocols reviewed by the convened IRB and through expedited procedures.
The UAB IRB requires Principal Investigators and all other research team members to complete and document appropriate training in the protection of human subjects. Additionally, the IRB monitors ongoing research for adherence to applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.
More information about the IRB and its role in the UAB Human Research Protection Program can be found on this website or by contacting the staff in the Office of the IRB.