The purpose of the WLU IRB is to protect the rights and welfare of human research participants. The IRB at WLU provides assistance to faculty, students, and staff to promote the protection of the participants of research, provide guidance to investigators in the proposal process, and review research for compliance with applicable federal law and local policies.

IRB AUTHORITY

A. The IRB has the authority and responsibility for reviewing all research projects involving human subjects to ensure that appropriate standards are met, and the research procedures do not infringe upon the safety, health, welfare, or life of those subjects.

Research means a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.

Human subject means a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains (1) Data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) Identifiable private information.

B. Per federal regulations, the IRB has the authority to:

1. Approve or disapprove a research proposal, or to require modifications to a proposal

2. Suspend or terminate a study, or impose restrictions or require modifications to a study as a condition for continuation

3. Observe the consent process and research procedures.

C. The IRB will follow the guidelines for human subject research provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the best of their ability.