An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a federally mandated organization of scientific and non-scientific persons, whose charge is to review research studies involving human subjects to ensure subject safety and welfare. While responsibility for the conduct of a research study ultimately lies with the Principal Investigator, an IRB is to ensure that any research study under its jurisdiction is in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. By special arrangement, the Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University Health Sciences Campus IRB may also review protocols from Tufts Medford Campus
The Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University Health Sciences (TUHS) IRB has jurisdiction over and services Tufts Medical Center, the Floating Hospital for Children, New England Eye Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.
The Tufts Medical Center and TUHS IRB is divided into two IRBs, IRB-Red and IRB-Blue. Each IRB meets once a month. The IRBs do not specialize; each is constituted and equipped to review any type of research study involving human subjects.
The IRB office is another resource available to faculty, staff, and students conducting human subjects research at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University. The IRB office staff is available to provide guidance and assistance with protocol and informed consent form (ICF) development, research education and training, and information and direction on federal research-related regulations and guidances, state laws, and institutional policies.
The IRB office is also available to assist investigators with monitoring of research, preparation for a site visit (e.g. sponsor, FDA), and orientation of new researchers to human subject protection matters. The office staff is also available to help provide orientation to new study coordinators.
In addition, the IRB office provides administrative support for the institutional Scientific Review Committee (SRC).
