An Institutional Review Board, also known as an IRB, is a group of individuals from varied disciplines who review, monitor, and approve research at an institution. Catholic Medical Center conducts multiple research studies that include leading edge technologies. Consequently, CMC has an IRB that is made up of a multidisciplinary group of physicians, scientists, and people from the community who are appointed by CMC’s Board of Trustees. This group reviews, approves, and monitors all research on human subjects at the hospital conducted by Catholic Medical Center medical, nursing, or ancillary staffs.
Every day, our medical staff and patients commit themselves to advancing technology by participating in studies that test new technologies or advances in medication. This commitment is evidenced by Catholic Medical Center being the only community hospital worldwide to achieve full accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP). AAHRPP accreditation underscores our long-term and continued commitment to conducting ethically sound research.
The IRB is charged with:
- Protecting the rights and welfare of human research subjects
- Protecting human subjects from undue research risks
- Protecting human subjects from invasion of privacy
- Promoting scientifically sound, ethical research of the potential risks and safeguards as well as the benefits.
The IRB complies with applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and standards. These include regulations of appropriate private and governmental accrediting and regulatory agencies having jurisdiction such matters. Agencies include, but are not limited to:
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- U.S. Office of Human Research Protection
- U.S. International Conference on Harmonization for Good Clinical Practice
If you have questions, suggestions, comments or concerns about conducting or participating in a research study, or about the Catholic Medical Center Human Research Protection Program including the Institutional Review Board, please contact:
Catholic Medical Center
IRB Office
Phone: 603.663.6069
Fax: 603.663.6028