INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD (IRB)

The Portland Area Indian Health Service (IHS) Institutional Review Board has the responsibility to review, and the authority to approve or disapprove, all research activities that use IHS facilities, data, staff resources, or funding in the Portland Area, moreover, they retain the same responsibility to previously approved activities.
The IRBs review research proposals to assess the risks and benefits for the Portland Area American Indian and Alaska Native population and tribes to be studied. Each proposal is reviewed using criteria described in the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP; formerly Office for Protection from Research Risk), Protection of Human Subjects, Title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 46, 1991. The research proposals are reviewed for safety, confidentiality (information about individuals is not released to anyone), degree of benefit, and the need for and quality of informed consent.

The Portland Area IHS IRB is one of 12 IRBs under the Indian Health Service Research Program. The IHS Research Program located in Rockville, MD, houses the National IHS IRB which oversees Area IRBs and serves as the IRB of record for those areas without their own Area IRB. Their website (http://www.ihs.gov/Research/index.cfm?module=hrpp_about) has many reference materials; including sample consent forms and IRB review checklists.
Researcher’s Responsibilities…
Review IRB research guidelines to ensure compliance.
Evaluate requirements of funding agency regarding IRB review.
Review IRB protocols to determine if you are eligible for exemption or expedited review.
Submit proposal to the Portland Area IHS IRB.
Submit progress reports and renewal requests annually.
Obtain IRB approval for all manuscripts prior to submission for publication and all presentations once accepted, at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled date of presentation.