Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Welcome to the Purdue University Global Institutional Review Board (IRB)!    

The IRB reviews Purdue Global-affiliated research proposals involving human subjects to ensure the welfare and rights of subjects are not placed at risk. The IRB is focused on the protection of all human subjects in research settings.   

The US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Human Research Protections is the federal agency governing research in the United States. The law relating to researchers’ responsibility for the protection of their human subjects is stated in the Code of Federal Regulations (45 CFR 46.102) found at this link: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.html#46.102. 

This document defines human subject-related research as “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge” on human subjects. A human subject is defined as “…a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains: (1) Data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) Identifiable private information.” As a researcher using human subjects, you must seek and receive documented approval for your proposed research through the PG IRB. 

You may question whether your research requires IRB review and approval. When in doubt, submit your proposal for review. The review is actually a fairly swift process.

The IRB reviewers will respond in one of three possible ways:

1. They determine that your protocol is Exempt and approved. If so, you are approved to proceed with your research as outlined.

2. They may require additional information or modifications before they can approve the proposal. They will provide you with specific recommendations for revisions or additions that must be made before your proposal is reviewed again.

3. They may determine that your proposal requires a full review. 

Important Terms

• Harm to subjects means that any disclosure of the human subjects’ responses outside the research could reasonably place the subjects at risk of criminal or civil liability or can be damaging to subjects’ financial standing, employability, or reputation.

• Existing data means the items that existed before your research was proposed or were collected prior to the research for a purpose other than your proposed research. This refers to data collected prior to the time your research was proposed.