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Standard Operating Procedures - Chapter 2

PURPOSE

UMASS Amherst IRB is a specially constituted administrative review board established for the purpose of protecting the rights and welfare of human participants in research. Accordingly, the UMASS IRB: (1) advises investigators in designing research studies in a manner to minimize potential harm to human participants; (2) reviews all planned and funded research involving human participants prior to initiation of the research; (3) approves research that meets established criteria for protection of human participants; and (4) monitors approved research to assure human participant protection.

Additionally, the UMASS IRB informs and assists UMASS and it's researchers on ethical and procedural issues related to human participants in research to: (1) facilitate compliance with relevant regulations of the United States Government, and (2) provide a framework suitable for continued support by government agencies, private foundations, and industry for research involving human participants at UMASS.

Principal investigators conducting research share the responsibility of assuring that the rights and welfare of human participants involved in research are protected. Moreover, faculty who assign or supervise research being conducted by staff or students have an obligation to consider whether these individuals are adequately qualified to carry out duties in accordance with the highest protection of human participants during research activities.