Saint Louis University (SLU) strives to conduct research of the highest quality and integrity. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) supports this goal by ensuring that all SLU research involving humans is conducted in accordance with the regulations, laws and policies in place to protect the rights and welfare of human research volunteers.
SLU has established three IRB committees, supported by an administrative team in the Research Integrity and Safety Group within the Office of the Vice President for Research, to review and oversee human research studies conducted at SLU or by SLU researchers.
Researchers are assumed to need SLU IRB approval if they are conducting human research unless the use of a Central or External IRB has been approved. The IRB team supports SLU researchers with the IRB process requirements, and through our education and quality assurance programs. If you need the IRB team’s help, call 314-977-7744, email irb@slu.edu or go to the IRB Staff page to identify your academic unit’s IRB contact person.
Email irb@slu.edu to join the IRB listserv and receive updates about training opportunities, policy changes and other notifications.
News and Updates
Check here for the latest news and updates from the Institutional Review Board.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and 15 other federal departments and agencies have made revisions to the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (the Common Rule), effective January 21, 2019. These revisions are an effort to modernize, simplify and enhance the current system of oversight. The Final Rule and additional related information can be accessed at: https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/regulations/finalized-revisions-common-rule/index.html.
What do researchers need to know?
The SLU IRB has created a Common Rule Changes Site, an internal Google Site with information and updates regarding the forthcoming changes
to the Common Rule. Guidance documents and other resources released by the IRB will
be stored on the Release Tracking page of the site to allow researchers to quickly
locate released items, associated release notes, and other helpful information.
The site is available through Google Sites. You will need to log into SLU Google Applications to gain access.
Please contact irb@slu.edu with any questions about this process.
As of Oct. 1, 2017, NIH-funded human subjects research that began or was ongoing on or after Dec. 13, 2016 is now covered by a Certificate of Confidentiality, which requires specific language to be present in the study consent form.
Contact the IRB for assistance if your study needs to comply with this new policy (NOT-OD-17-109).
Quick Access
Full Board Meeting Dates and Deadlines can be found here.
For your convenience, a compilation of IRB forms and guidelines can be found here.
New to the IRB? The IRB Sample Protocols Archive, an internal Google site containing examples of approved applications, can be used as a reference when drafting your IRB application.