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Research Policy and Compliance  /  Committees  /  Institutional Review Board

Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects - Institutional Review Board

Human subject research is the collection of data from an individual, either through a direct intervention/interaction or by the use of private identifiable information. Caltech is guided by the ethical principles set forth in the report of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research (the "Belmont Report") and Caltech abides by the Department of Health and Human Services' regulations found at 45 CFR 46 (the "Revised Common Rule").

Caltech performs human subject research on campus and at JPL under a Federal Wide Assurance (FWA 00003897) filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and an addendum on file with the Department of Navy.

While the ultimate responsibility for the treatment of all human participants in research rests with the individual researcher (faculty, students, or staff) who has been given the privilege to conduct research with humans, all human subjects research at Caltech is overseen by the Caltech Institutional Review Board (IRB) which acts to safeguard and promote the ethical and responsible treatment of human participants in research. All research that involves human participants, regardless of the source of financial support, must be reviewed and approved by the IRB before it can be initiated. The IRB members conduct scientific and ethical review of research studies, while providing education and guidance for the research community.

New COVID-19 Instructions

The 2024 IRB meetings will be held on the following dates:

  • January 12
  • March 8
  • May 8
  • July 12
  • September 13
  • November 1

IRB Protocols (including amendments) are due no later than 5 weeks before the upcoming meeting.

IRB Administrator

irb@caltech.edu

(626) 395-8448

Committee Chair

Ralph Adolphs