The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for protecting the rights and welfare of human research participants by reviewing and monitoring human research protocols.

1. Appointment of Members

• The President of the University of Texas at El Paso assigns responsibility of assigning IRB members to the Institutional Official (IO).

2. Committee Composition

• The IRB must consist of at least five (5) members. Some memberships need to fulfill specific regulatory requirements while others have unique positions within the committee.  Required categories of membership include:
  • Non-Scientific Member
  • Non-Affiliated Member
  • Scientific Member
• For research involving vulnerable populations (e.g., children, prisoners, pregnant women, or mentally disabled persons), the IRB should include members knowledgeable about these groups. Additional members include an IRB Chair and a Safety expert.

3. Member Responsibilities

• IRB members are responsible for reviewing research protocols and proposed changes to protocols involving human subjects, evaluating adverse events and unexpected outcomes, and review and investigate concerns regarding human subjects research. Members must not disclose confidential information and are expected to interact respectfully with staff, faculty, and other committee members.