Institutional Review Boards are a
response to the scientific community's realization that general
ethical principles were not sufficient to fully guide the conduct
of modern scientific research. International efforts to develop
ethical research principles began in earnest after World War II
(spurred by the revelations of Nazi war atrocities) and were
formally codified in various treaties, resolutions, policies, and
laws during the 1960s through the 1990s. The specific historic
documents which frame the ethical and philosophical foundation for
the modern IRB include: The
Nuremberg Code (1949),
The
Helsinki Declaration
(1964), and The
Belmont Report
(1979).
The composition, tasks, and
responsibilities of the Augsburg IRB are outlined in U.S. Federal
Policy (Federal
Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects - Federal
Register, June 18, 1991--Sections
46.101-124) and Augsburg
College procedures (Augsburg College Faculty
Handbook--9.20.1-9.20.3). A copy of the Augsburg College
Faculty Handbook is on reserve in the Augsburg College
Library.
The official task of the
Institutional Review Board at Augsburg College is to assist and
inform researchers in the development of appropriate practice in
four areas relevant to human subjects protection:
- Risk/benefit
analysis,
- Subject selection,
- Informed consent procedures,
and
- Subject debriefing.
The IRB assists researchers in
anticipating circumstances which may put research participants at
risk and helping the researcher remedy such problems.
All research which involves human
subjects and which is conducted under the auspices of Augsburg
College by its faculty, staff, or students is subject to Augsburg
policy guidelines and IRB review.
The Augsburg IRB commenced
operation during the 1993-94 school year and has been in
continuous operation ever since. The chair and members are
appointed by and report to the Vice President of the College for
Academic Affairs.
