IRB/Human Subjects

Clark University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for ensuring that all research conducted by faculty, staff, and students, protects the rights and welfare of human subjects. All human subjects research at Clark must be reviewed by the IRB.

Application forms and instructions may be found on the Mentor IRB Website.  Exempt and expedited reviews are generally considered on a rolling basis. For other types of research, submission deadlines for monthly IRB meetings are listed on the sidebar.  Apart from situations in which urgent review is required due to extenuating circumstances, the IRB does not review applications during the summer.

Turnaround time for proposal review is normally 1-3 weeks after submission (for exempt or expedited reviews) or 1-2 weeks after the meeting date (for full board reviews).  An additional week is sometimes needed for special circumstances. Note that there are submission deadline dates for each scheduled IRB meeting. The point of contact for IRB matters is Linda Cote, Grant and IRB Coordinator, at licote@clarku.edu.

NOTE: Some committee determinations may require review of a revised proposal at a subsequent meeting of the full committee. It is strongly urged that research planned for summer be submitted for review NO LATER THAN APRIL to allow time for resubmission if required. Proposals submitted for the final (May) meeting of the academic year are rarely approved in time for research to take place over the summer.

Update (August 23, 2021):  In-Person Research Pause

The IRB pause on in-person human subjects research due to COVID-19 risk has been lifted as of August 23, 2021.  Studies that have been previously approved to apply in-person research methods may proceed to do so. Because COVID is endemic and part of day-to-day life, it is the position of the IRB that participating in research involves no more inherent risk than many other types of in-person activities in which people choose to engage (or not engage) on a day-to-day basis. Hence, for consenting individuals, in-person research may be conducted in a way that is consistent with the Common Rule definition of minimal risk (i.e., the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater in and of themselves than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests).

If the application of in-person research activities within a study will require changes in approved study procedures, then an amendment must be filed with the IRB for approval prior to the commencement of these activities. Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to the IRB (humansubjects@clarku.edu).