Institutional Review Board

Gonzaga University

Institutional Review Board

Partnering with you to make scholarly inquiry a reality

Welcome to GU's Institutional Review Board (IRB).

The IRB is an administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects recruited to participate in research activities conducted under the auspices of this institution. The policies of the GU IRB are also designed to protect University members, students who conduct research under supervision, and community partners who conduct research activities affiliated with Gonzaga University. The IRB at Gonzaga University is represented by interdisciplinary faculty and community members that have received training and certification to conduct and evaluate research. Additionally, they represent expertise in working with vulnerable categories of subjects and represent expertise in scientific and nonscientific areas. The IRB has the authority to approve, require modifications in, or disapprove all research activities that fall within its jurisdiction as specified by both the federal regulations and local institutional policy. The IRB also functions independently of but in coordination with other committees across the university and in the community. This jurisdiction is defined by and comes from the Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP), the federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that oversees Institutional Review Boards.

The IRB at Gonzaga University functions within the guidelines provided and reviews research as defined by OHRP. Research is defined as a "systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Activities which meet this definition constitute research for purposes of this policy, whether or not they are conducted or supported under a program which is considered research for other purposes. For example, some demonstration and service programs may include research activities" (CFR 46.102).

Projects that meet any dimension of the OHRP definition of research need to complete and submit an IRB Protocol for review and approval. Please follow the following procedures in submitting an IRB protocol for review:

1. Complete the front cover page and attain all required signatures (i.e. Advisor, Chair or Dean) in ink before submitting the protocol for review

2. Carefully complete the protocol addressing all of the required content found in each section

a. Attach instruments, interview guides, observation script/guides or other tools used in gathering data

b. Attach Informed Consent

c. Attach Informed Assent (if working with minors)

d. Attach letters of support if partnering or gathering data at other institutions (i.e. schools, hospitals, prisons, organizations)

3. Electronically submit the completed protocol to the IRB Chair: Adrian B. Popa (popa@gonzaga.edu)

4. Send original front cover page with ink signature via campus mail to Adrian Popa: Tilford 210

The following members are currently serving the IRB at Gonzaga University for the academic year 2013-2014.

Board Members	Classification	Degree	Email
Ciccarello, Brigit	Non-university, community	M.A.	Brigit.ciccarello@tatrc.org
Fisk, Steve	Non-university, community	Ph.D.	stevef@spokaneschools.org
Foster, Boyd	Vulnerable categories	Ph.D.	fosters@gonzaga.edu
Fu, Carolyn	Vulnerable categories	Ph.D.	fu@gonzaga.edu
Higginson, Brian	Vulnerable categories/scientific	Ph.D.	Higginson@gonzaga.edu
Lontz, Jame	Vulnerable categories	Ph.D.	lontz@gonzaga.edu
Maccarone, Ellen	Non-scientific/secretary	Ph.D.	maccarone@gonzaga.edu
Mahoney, Dan	Vulnerable categories/scientific	Ph.D.	Mahoney@gonzaga.edu
Nieding, Deborah	Vulnerable categories	Ph.D.	nieding@gonzaga.edu
Popa, Adrian	Vulnerable categories/Chair	Ph.D., M.P.A.	popa@gonzaga.edu
Ramirez, Jeff	Scientific	Ph.D.	Ramirez@gonzaga.edu
Reyes, Raymond	Cultural/diversity consultant	Ph.D.	reyes@gu.gonzaga.edu