A female Mayo Clinic doctor talking to a seated female patient in a patient gown, both wearing masks. Protecting the rights, privacy and welfare of research participants

The IRB has the authority to review, approve, modify or disapprove research protocols submitted past faculty, staff and student investigators at all Mayo Clinic locations. The IRB also aids external institutions as the IRB of record.

Overview

The Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Lath (IRB) ensures that the rights and well-being of potential enquiry subjects are fairly protected.

The Institutional Review Board is charged with reviewing all studies involving human subjects for compliance with both Mayo Dispensary institutional policies and with state, local and federal laws. The IRB likewise ensures that all studies comply with the ethical principles contained in the Belmont Report, such as respect for people, beneficence and justice.

The Mayo Clinic IRB is made up of 4 committees comprising at least 5 members, including Mayo Clinic scientists and nonscientists, and at least i member who is not affiliated with the institution.

In general, an institutional review lath is a commission charged by the U.S. government with protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research. The use of IRBs began in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) when a memorandum issued in 1966 required that investigators receiving funding from public health grants obtain a review of research past a commission of institutional assembly.

IRB history

The Mayo Dispensary Institutional Review Board began in 1971 as the "Committee on Investigations Involving Human Subjects." From 1972 to 1983, it was known equally the "Human Studies Committee." The term "Institutional Review Board" was first used at Mayo Clinic in 1984.

IRB mission

The principal mission of the Mayo Clinic IRB is to ensure the protection of rights, privacy and welfare of all man participants in research programs conducted by Mayo Clinic and associated kinesthesia, professional staff and students.

Coexistent with participant protection is the goal of providing quality service to enhance the conduct of research.

To attain this goal, the IRB has the authority to review, approve, modify or disapprove research protocols submitted by faculty, staff and student investigators within Mayo Dispensary. The IRB review procedure is guided by federal rules and regulations and is based on the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects ("Common Dominion"), the Belmont Report, and provisions of 45CFR46 — "Protection of Human Subjects" requiring institutions that receive federal funds to have all inquiry involving homo participants approved by an IRB.

IRB leadership

The director of the Mayo Clinic IRB is cardiologist R Scott Wright, M.D., a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota.