Institutional Review Board

The Human Subjects Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a federally mandated committee composed of faculty, staff, students, and community members. The IRB works to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects participating in research conducted by, or under the supervision of, University of Massachusetts Amherst faculty, staff, and students. Reviews are conducted in accordance with federal and institutional regulations and policies. Education and training in the protection of human research subjects is a federal requirement. Training is required of all investigators, including faculty, staff, and students, who are engaged in the planning, conduct or analysis of research that is sponsored by a funding agency and that includes the use of human subjects.

Local Review Boards, where established, review unfunded research following the University human subjects policy. The IRB also reviews unfunded research if a local board is not available. More information on the local review boards, training requirements, human subject forms, and other related information is available from the Office of Research Affairs.