INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD (IRB)

Human subjects research is defined as research that involves a living individual about whom an investigator obtains:

• data through intervention or interaction with an individual, or
• identifiable private information

See Examples of Human Subjects Research for further clarification of human subjects research and protection of participants in this research.

According to our binding Federal-Wide Assurance (FWA#00003675), all research activities involving human subjects, regardless of sponsorship, must be reviewed by the IRB if one or more of the following apply:

• The research is sponsored by Meharry Medical College
• The research is conducted by or under the direction of any employee, faculty, staff, student, or agent of Meharry using any property or facility of Meharry Medical College
• The research involves the use of Meharry’s non-public information to identify or contact human subjects or prospective subjects.

See Definitions for further discussion of these and other terms related to human subjects research.