The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee designed to regulate care of participants in research conducted by members of the Northwest University community: faculty, staff, students, and doctoral candidates.

The responsibility of the IRB is to establish and enforce ethical guidelines that protect human participants from harm, respect their dignity, and ensure the appropriate treatment and use of non-human subjects (animals). The IRB especially seeks to protect those who have limited understanding of the risks of their participation or who have diminished decision-making abilities. Current federal policy stipulates both the necessity and requirements of institutional research boards. Further, the NU IRB has outlined NU Principles and Practices with specific guidance for Northwest University.

Who Must Submit an IRB Application?

All potential research projects using human participants (including those conducted by students as part of a class assignment) need to be reviewed by this board prior to their implementation, unless they meet criteria for exempt status. IRB review is required for any research that it designed to “develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge” where data will be used for publication or conference presentation to “forward the field”.

A study is exempt if it:

• Is used for program development only
• Uses only previously collected, anonymous documents & records, or data available to the public
• Consists of passive observation of participants whose identity is kept anonymous
• Is held in an educational setting and examines educational practices

Research Project Planning and Preparation

Protecting Human Research Participants Training

All researchers need to complete Protecting Human Research Participants training. See the Where Do I Start? document and complete PHRP Training to begin. 

Please note: NU requires human subjects training every 5 years for all researchers and research supervisors. For student applications, both the student researcher and the faculty advisors must submit certificate of human subjects training (PHRP Training or equivalent) with the application.

Sensitive Topics Review Process

Researchers associated with Northwest University considering a sensitive topic must first undergo a sensitive topics review before progressing further in the research process. This is done through the Office of the Provost.  This review is meant to provide early feedback into the ethical review process and does not guarantee ultimate approval of the project. Applications must still be submitted to the IRB for final research approval.

Research at Northwest University

Researchers who plan to recruit NU students, faculty, and staff, are required to obtain recruitment permission from the Office of the Provost once IRB approval is received.

Research in International Settings

Research involving international research may require prior approval from an appropriate national authority, local organization, and/or IRB equivalent. Where no equivalent board or group exists, investigators must identify local experts or community leaders who will be knowledgeable about the study and who can serve as consultants for that setting.

For international research, federal regulations also stipulate:

1. The researcher must provide the same or equivalent protections for participants as would be available to them in the US, regardless of the international setting.
2. The researcher must be familiar with and comply with local laws, regulations, political and socio-economic factors, and cultural context in all research locations.
3. The researcher must have sufficient knowledge of the local context, which may impact all aspects of the research design, and in particular, the protection of the rights and welfare of participants.

Level of knowledge about the local context and local law is pivotal in evaluating the degree of risk to potential participants posed by a study. For higher risk studies, the IRB may request consultation with experts in the particular international setting.

Researchers should also review the US Department of Health and Human Service International Compilation of Human Subjects Protections.

When Is My Application Due?

IRB research proposal applications are due 7 business days PRIOR to IRB meetings.

Please ensure that all responses are typed directly within each section of the application. Do not modify the form.

Future IRB Committee Meetings

Note: The IRB Committee does not meet in July and December.