EPCC's Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research
subjects recruited to participate in research activities conducted under the auspices of the College.
The IRB reviews research that involves a vulnerable category of subjects, such as children, prisoners,
pregnant women, or handicapped or mentally disabled persons, and gives consideration to the inclusion of one or more
individuals who are knowledgeable about and experienced in working with these subjects.
EPCC's IRB has at least five members with varying backgrounds to promote complete and adequate review of research
activities commonly conducted by the institution. The IRB is sufficiently qualified through the experience and
expertise of its members to promote respect for its advice and counsel in safeguarding the rights and welfare of
human subjects. In addition to possessing the professional competence necessary to review specific research
activities, the IRB ascertains the acceptability of proposed research in terms of institutional commitments and
regulations, applicable law, and standards of professional conduct and practice.
Every nondiscriminatory effort will be made to ensure diversity in EPCC’s IRB membership (e.g., representation of
different professions, scientific and nonscientific members, members not affiliated with EPCC). See 45 CFR 46.107, 21
CFR 56.107
EPCC's IRB may, at 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 individuals may not vote with the
IRB.
Further Information
Which types of research require an IRB request?
EPCC requires an IRB application for permission to use human subjects in research when its employees, students, or
agents:
- Intervene or interact with living individuals for research purposes
- Obtain, release, or access individually identifiable private information for research purposes.
- EPCC also requires an IRB
Which types of research are exempt?
Research that is “exempt” includes:
- Normal educational practices such as: research on regular and special education instructional strategies or
research on the effectiveness of or the comparison among instructional techniques, curricula, or classroom
management methods;
- Educational tests, surveys, interviews, or observation of public behavior unless identified and sensitive;
- Research using existing data, documents, records, pathological specimens, or diagnostic specimens, if
publicly available or unidentifiable;
- Research on elected or appointed public officials or candidates for public office;
- Evaluation of public benefit service programs;
- Taste and food quality evaluation and consumer acceptance studies.
How do you place a request for IRB approval?
Anyone wanting to perform experiments involving humans must first read the EPCC Administrative Policies and
Procedures Manual on “Human Subjects in Research” and certify that his/her proposed research is in conformity with
the College policy. The applicant must also certify that he/she has read the Belmont Report, the regulations for
the protection of human subjects (45 CFR 46), the NIH Guidelines on the Inclusion of Women and Minorities as
Subjects in Clinical Research (Federal Register, March 29, 1994, pages 14508-14513), and the NIH Policy and
Guidelines on the Inclusion of Children as Participants in Research Involving Human Subjects. The first two
documents are available on this website and the latter two documents are available in College Research Center and
on the
Office for Human Research Protections. Once
these materials have been thoroughly reviewed, an application must be submitted to the Institutional Review Board
for approval.