Institutional Planning and Research

The CVTC Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews research projects which involve human subjects to ensure the following broad standards are upheld:

• the rights and welfare of the individual(s) involved are protected
• appropriate methods are used to secure consent
• any risks involved with the investigation are balanced by the benefits

There are three types of review methods:

Exempt from Review

There are specific criteria defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services that qualify a research project for exemption from review by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The determination of whether a research project is exempt cannot be made by the Principal Investigator; it must be made by CVTC's IRB. These categories include research conducted in commonly accepted educational settings, using existing data and the use of educational tests.

Note: Expedited & Full Committee Reviews

CVTC does not maintain a certified IRB and is therefore limited to the review and approval of exempt research only. Research studies requiring expedited or full committee review must obtain approval from a certified IRB prior to submission to CVTC. Following receipt of external IRB approval, CVTC's IRB Administrator will review all study materials. If appropriate, you may be issued a Site Authorization granting permission to conduct the study at CVTC. CVTC does not serve as the IRB of record for such studies.

Expedited Review

Expedited review covers research that involves only minimal risk procedures (for example, the study of individual or group behavior in which the behavior is not manipulated and the subjects are not exposed to any stressful situation, removal of dental plaque, moderate exercise by normal volunteers).

Full Committee Review

Research involving more than minimal risk to the participant requires review by the full IRB. Full review covers all research that is not specifically suited for "expedited review" or "screened as exempt from review."