Institutional Review Board

Mission of the IRB

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) supports the research of Limestone University faculty and students.  The policy is meant to serve the current needs of faculty and students.  It may be modified as their needs change and programs expand.

The IRB may approve, request revisions, or deny research conducted on the Limestone University campus or through the Limestone University Internet programs in keeping with the terms of The Limestone University Institutional Review Board Policy Manual.

If the IRB does not approve a particular research protocol, no one else may approve that research.  However, the protocol may be resubmitted to the IRB with modifications for reconsideration.

Membership

The Limestone University IRB shall consist of:

• Two Co-Chairs; Authorized Institutional Officers (AIOs)
• Members from each of the following Academic Programs as appointed or reappointed annually by their respective Program Coordinators and approved by their respective College Deans:
  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Criminal Justice and Political Science
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Sciences and Exercise Science
  • Biology and Chemistry
  • A member of Library Services personnel
  • One member from outside of Limestone University invited for a 1-year term
  • Two student representatives, invited for a 1-year term

The membership composition will be such that the number of IRB members, not including the Co-Chairs, is not divisible by three (3).

The chairmanship will be voted on at the first meeting of each fall semester.  The chair reserves the right to delete members from the IRB roster if they fail to participate in the review of more than two of their assigned protocols.

Any Program where research is conducted may have representation on the IRB.  Members of other programs may join as their research needs require.  College Deans may send a request for IRB representation to the Co-Chairs and upon consideration, members may be added to the official roll at the discretion of the sitting IRB Membership.

Obligations of the Membership

The co-chairs, who will serve as the authorized institutional officers (AIO), will maintain digital records of certification of completion of ethical training, IRB Applications to Conduct Research, minutes, IRB Certificates, Protocol Completion certificates, and abstracts.

Members must be familiar with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Code of Federal Regulations. All IRB members will be required to participate in ethical research training annually.  The training materials and/or platform will be provided to the membership by the co-chairs at the start of the academic term. They must be completed no later than the close of business on the third Friday after day-campus classes have begun.  Certification will be valid for the remainder of that academic year.

Service on the Limestone University IRB will suffice as service to the University as required by faculty appointment.  The IRB's co-chairs are exempt from serving on standing faculty committees unless serving at their own pleasure.  Membership may be exempt from serving on standing faculty committees at the discretion of their Dean and the University Coordinating Committee; if serving on a standing faculty committee, membership is exempt from chairing a committee unless doing so at their own pleasure.

*Further information concerning the IRB, its governance, and its procedures, as well as application protocols can be found on the Limestone University IRB Canvas Page.