Institutional Review Board

Institutional Review Board (IRB) for the Protection of Human Participants in Research

Sacred Heart University (SHU) is committed to the core value of recognizing, honoring, and preserving the dignity and worth of every human being. SHU supports a community of scholars who pledge to respect each human person and to protect the individual’s rights and privacy as human subjects engaged in scientific research.

Those engaged in research involving human participants are expected to conduct their research according to ethical principles that reflect professional as well as community standards, regardless of the source of funding. SHU’s IRB is responsible for ensuring the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research activities are protected and that research is conducted appropriately and humanely. 

The policies and procedures of SHU’s IRB are intended to help researchers ensure that their research does not pose risks to participants that are unwarranted and that the potential benefits of the research outweigh the risks. These policies and procedures are intended to ensure that all participants engaged in research at SHU are respected as autonomous persons, that special care is taken not to exploit those with diminished autonomy, and that no group or category of people is given undue opportunity or undue burden through participation in research. 

SHU faculty, staff or students planning human subjects research must first complete the required CITI Training (details below) and submit an IRB application for review via Cayuse Human Ethics.  

The IRB reviews exempt, expedited, limited review research, as well as continuing applications and modifications on an ongoing basis. Studies requiring full board review will be scheduled within one month of a complete application submission.

SHU IRB is responsible for ensuring the review of all research or clinical investigations involving human participants, regardless of funding source, under the following circumstances:

  • The research/clinical investigation is sponsored by SHU, whether internally or externally funded.
  • The research/clinical investigation is conducted, in whole or in part, by members of SHU faculty, staff or students acting in their university capacity regardless of where the activity takes place.
  • SHU receives a direct federal award to conduct human subject research/clinical investigation, even if activities involving human participants are conducted by a subcontractor or collaborator.

An IRB research proposal may be submitted by SHU faculty, staff or students*.

Training Requirements

All Principal Investigators must complete the following CITI Training:

  1. Depending on the focus of your research, choose either Social-Behavioral-Educational (SBE) Foundations, which provides a focused introduction to the essential human subjects research topics for social-behavioral-educational researchers or Biomedical (Biomed) Foundations which provides a focused introduction to the essential human subjects research topics for biomedical researchers.
  2. Responsible Conduct of Research, covering core norms, principles, regulations and rules governing research practices.
  3. Conflict of Interest

If you have previously completed this training and your certificates have expired, you must complete the appropriate refresher course. Email irb@sacredheart.edu for guidance.

*Students seeking IRB approval must submit applications under their own name, with an Advisor/Faculty member listed for initial review and approval.

The SHU faculty or staff member submitting the proposal assumes the responsibility for ensuring compliance with SHU’s IRB policies, guidelines, and approvals, and relevant federal, state and local laws governing research involving human participants.

For information on IRB procedures and policies, refer to the Institutional Review Board Guide or contact:

Christopher Taber, Ph.D.
IRB Chair
203-396-6342
taberc@sacredheart.edu

Jessica Samuolis
IRB Vice Chair
203-371-7918
samuolisj@sacredheart.edu