Welcome to the Institutional Review Board

The UTMB IRB Office is responsible by federal law for ensuring the protection of the rights, welfare, and well-being of participants involved in research studies conducted by UTMB faculty, staff and students.

One way this is accomplished is by having all research studies reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB carefully reviews and monitors research to ensure that it is carried out legally and ethically. Research studies cannot be started until the IRB has approved the study.

Every Research Participant has the following rights:

• To be treated with respect, including respect for your decision whether or not you wish to enroll in, continue in, or stop being in a study.
• To choose to stop being in a study at any time.
• To be given time to read the consent form and have the research study explained to you.
• To be given time to ask questions, and to be told whom you can contact if you have any more questions.
• To be given a copy of the consent form after you have signed it.

Questions that you should ask before you agree to participate in a research study:

• Why is the research being done?
• What will be done to me as part of the research?
• How will I benefit from the research?
• Could the research hurt me?
• What will the researcher do with my information?
• Will the research cost me anything?
• Who pays if I'm unexpectedly injured in the study?
• How long will the study last?
• What happens if I decide to leave the study early?

If you are a participant, you may contact the IRB office with any questions or concerns.

Other Resources

The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) provides a brochure for people who are interested or already involved in participating in research. "Brochures for the Public" outlines information for research participants about their rights as a volunteer.

• OHRP English Brochure - Becoming a Research Volunteer
• OHRP Spanish Brochure - Becoming a Research Volunteer

The research subject advocate (RSA) serves as the voice of the research participant to investigators and the institution. The RSA is independent of the research team. A research subject or anyone with a concern regarding a subject's experience in a research protocol can direct questions, complaints or ideas for improving research practices to the RSA.

The RSA is also available as a resource to members of the study team if they have concerns, are seeking the research participant perspective while planning study protocols, or need assistance mediating subject issues that arise through the course of research.

The UTMB RSA is part of the Research Ethic Consultation Service. To contact the RSA, please call (409) 747-1230