What is the Institutional Review Board?

LLCC’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a peer-review body responsible for ensuring that research at the college safeguards the rights of human research subjects. The IRB is guided by the Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects Research and related federal regulations, including the Common Rule (45 CFR Part 46). The IRB has jurisdiction over human subjects research taking place at all LLCC locations and by all LLCC employees.

Does my project need to be reviewed by the IRB?

Any project that involves research and human subjects must be reviewed by LLCC’s IRB. Research is defined as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Human subjects are defined as living individuals about whom an investigator (whether an LLCC employee or student) conducting research obtains 1) data through intervention or interaction with the individuals or 2) identifiable private information. 

Quality improvement projects designed exclusively for use within our own practices, and which are not intended to be published, are not considered research.

How do researchers external to LLCC access the IRB process?

External research is defined as any project or study not conducted directly by the college itself or members of the college community as part of their regular duties. External researchers should contact the IRB coordinator to discuss their project or study. Note that the LLCC IRB does not make available any personal contact information for its employees and students to outside parties.

Contact

Contact the IRB coordinator with questions or to request information: IRB@llcc.edu.