Institutional Review Board
The Institutional Review Board is responsible for critical oversight functions to approve research conducted on human subjects that are 'scientific,' 'ethical,' and 'regulatory.'
Approval & Regulations
In Sept 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food & Drug Administration approved Bethel University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the IRB Members.
The Institutional Review Board is required and regulated by Federal Law (National Research Act 1974) and Federal Regulations (Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations Part 46) for any institutions that perform biomedical or behavioral research involving humans. The IRB's are empowered and required by the federal government to approve, monitor, and review all research involving humans.
Roles
The IRB's primary role is to make sure the research is ethical, that informed consent of the participants has been obtained, to ensure the privacy of the participants, and to protect special populations. A secondary role is to ensure that research is conducted in a scientific manner by appropriately trained professionals.
Research Approval Process
The IRB may only approve research for which there is a bona fide informed consent process for participants, for which potential benefits to society balance the risks to subjects, and for which the selection of subjects presents a fair or just distribution of risks and benefits to eligible participants.
All research at Bethel University involving humans must be approved by Bethel University’s IRB in addition to approval by one’s program Director or Chair and the appropriate Dean or Vice-President.
Benefit
The creation of this IRB allows Bethel University to be eligible for millions of dollars of research money and represents a large step in the advancement of the University, the community, and all those who may have their lives improved through better medical care and education.
IRB Members
IRB Leadership
- Chairman: Grant Gallimore, M. D., Medical Director, Physician Assistant program.
IRB Members
- Grant Gallimore, M.D.
- Rev. Dr. Anne Hames, University Chaplain
- Ashley Johnson, PhD, Nursing
- Kim LaFevor, PhD, Business
- Carleton Palmer, PhD, Psychology
- Thomas Smith, O.D., Community Leader
- Johnnie Welch, D. Min, Minister, Therapist
