About IRB

Georgia Tech holds Federalwide Assurance (FWA) number 00001731.

The Institutional Review Boards are comprised of academic and general faculty from Georgia Institute of Technology, faculty from other universities, and members of the greater Atlanta community.  Dr. Dennis Folds, GTRI Chief Scientist  is chair of the Central IRB and the Joint Advanced Brain Imaging Center IRB, a collaboration between Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology.

The IRBs are established pursuant to Title 45 Code of Federal Regulation  Part 46 including Subparts A, B, C, and D, and Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations Part 56.  The IRB members are sufficiently qualified through their experience, expertise and diversity, including consideration of race, gender, and cultural backgrounds and sensitivity to such issues as community attitudes, to promote respect for its advice and counsel in safeguarding the rights and welfare of human subjects.  In addition to possessing the professional competence necessary to review specific research activities, the IRBs are able to ascertain the acceptability of proposed research in terms of institutional commitments and regulations, applicable law, and standards of professional conduct and practice.  The IRBs therefore include persons knowledgeable in these areas and are authorized to retain consultants when necessary.

Federalwide Assurance

The Georgia Institute of Technology Institutional Review Boards hold a Federalwide Assurance (FWA) of Compliance (number 00001731) with the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP).  A fully executed copy of Georgia Tech’s Assurance  is maintained by the Director of the Office of Research Compliance.  The Georgia Institute of Technology Institutional Review Boards are registered with the Office for Human Research Protections under number IRB00000548.

Scope of IRB Authority

1. The Federalwide Assurance and Institutional Review Board Policies and Procedures apply to all Georgia Tech faculty, staff, and students, regardless of whether the research activity is funded.  Also included is any research for which an Assurance or another formal agreement (e.g. Inter-Institutional Authorization Agreement) identifies the Georgia Tech Institutional Review Board as the IRB of record.  Georgia Institute of Technology Institutional Review Board approval is required in advance for all projects with human subjects, regardless of whether the project is funded, and regardless of whether it is a subgrant or subcontract to or from another institution.

Institutional Official

The President of Georgia Institute of Technology has delegated authority to Jilda D. Garton, Associate Vice Provost for Research (AVPR), as the Institutional Official (IO) for Institutional Review Board purposes.  She has the authority to legally commit Georgia Institute of Technology to meet federal regulatory requirements.  The Institutional Official/AVPR is responsible for appointing the Chair of the Institutional Review Boards and board members.  As Institutional Official, the Associate Vice Provost for Research signs Georgia Institute of Technology’s Federalwide Assurance.

Office of Research Compliance 

The Office of Research Compliance provides administrative support to the Institutional Review Boards.  The Office of Research Compliance reports to the Associate Vice Provost for Research/Institutional Official (AVPR/IO) and through the AVPR/IO to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, Dr. Mark Allen.  While the AVPR/IO generally attends all meetings of the IRB, it is the responsibility of the Office of Research Compliance to keep the AVPR/IO informed of IRB activities by frequent interaction and consultation and by providing meeting minutes.

The institute’s Federalwide Assurance and Registration are maintained by the Director of the Office of Research Compliance, Barbara S. Henry.

In close coordination with the Boards, the Office of Research Compliance facilitates ethical conduct of research through advance and continuing protocol review; monitoring and reporting; convening regular meetings for review of proposed and continuing research; and providing educational programs for faculty, staff, and students.  The Office of Research Compliance oversees the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and educational programs which satisfy the many regulations governing the conduct of such research.

Compliance Officers include Melanie Clark and Kelly Winn.