The TWU Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) review research projects that involve human subjects to protect their rights and welfare. Therefore, it is the policy of TWU that all research conducted by any TWU faculty member, staff member, or student using human subjects must have prior approval from a TWU IRB before the research is initiated. Human subjects research at TWU is governed by TWU's Federalwide Assurance, Policy, and IRB Procedures (pdf).
Implementation of Revisions to the Common Rule
Final revisions to the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (a.k.a. the "Common Rule") were issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on January 18, 2017. Originally, the majority of changes were scheduled to go into effect on January 19, 2018, but an Interim Final Rule has now been published extending the implementation date to July 19, 2018. The major impacts will be in the areas of informed consent requirements, exemption categories, continuing review of expedited studies, and the single IRB of record requirement (which will not be implemented until January 2020 except for NIH-funded studies). The TWU IRBs are working on the implementation and transition to the new requirements. More information and training sessions will be announced during the Spring 2018 semester.
Basic Information about IRB Requirements
View basic information about whether IRB review is required, levels of review (exempt, expedited, and full), the process when more than one IRB is involved, guidance on obtaining student data and using TWU email lists, data management, and other resources.
Application Forms and Requests Related to Approved Sites
Training Requirements
View requirements and links on the basic human subjects' protection training requirements for investigators and research team members.
Contact Us
(940) 898-3378 or email irb@twu.edu for Denton and Dallas (Ms. Sandy Owens, IRB Coordinator)
(713) 794-2480 or email irb-houston@twu.edu for Houston (Ms. Madhura Maiya, IRB Coordinator)