Human Subjects Research and the Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The Pomona College IRB is committed to protecting the rights and welfare of all persons who participate in projects that are conducted under its auspices. This includes ensuring that research participants are fully aware of their rights and of the protections available to them. Further, the IRB is responsible for ascertaining that there is a balance between the potential long-term knowledge gained from any proposed research and any potential risk to the research participants.  Investigators who plan research involving human subjects that requires exempt, expedited, or full board review are required to submit their research protocol to the Pomona IRB for review.

We abide by principles put forth by the Belmont Report and the Common Rule.

The IRB Committee members include an Associate Dean of the College, faculty members from diverse disciplines, as well as a community representative. Researchers wishing to use human participants should notify the IRB Administrators at an early stage in the project design about the need for IRB review, for assistance, or to provide feedback.

Further Information for Investigators Considering a Submission to the IRB 

• Process Flow for IRB
• Activities that Generally Require Submission to IRB
• Activities that May Not Require Submission to IRB
• The Level of Review and Minimal Risk
• Additional Resources for Preparing IRB Protocols