Driscoll Health System (DHS) has one review board with primary and alternate members. The Driscoll Children’s Hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB) is composed of DHS-affiliated and community member(s). Members are categorized as physician-scientist, other-scientist and non-scientist.
DCH IRB was first established in 1993. DCH IRB covers DHS and DHS-affiliated sites. It oversees all human subject research under its jurisdiction. Its purpose is to protect the rights and welfare of human research participants by determining that the selection of participants is equitable, evaluating that the risks are outweighed by the potential benefits of the research and that informed consent(s) are obtained and documented unless it qualifies for a waiver.
Healthcare providers (e.g., physicians) engaged in human subject research at Driscoll Health System (DHS) recognized that providing patient care and performing research on that same patient are two different responsibilities. Patient care focuses on the individual and not harming; research focuses on generating generalizable knowledge and doing good.
When involving human participants in research, a research team must adhere to a set of regulations and guidelines that are based on several ethical and scientific principles.
The DCH IRB responds and investigates all concerns related to the conduct of research involving human participants.
Participants in a research study can contact the Patient Advocate (DCH Patient Relations) or DCH IRB with any questions or concerns regarding participation in a research study. Callers can be current research participants or concerned citizens.
For TTY Deaf Messaging, connect to TTY Interpretation by dialing (800) 735-2989.
For protocols that require full-board review and approval, turnaround could be affected by the timing of full board meetings or schedule of designated reviewers. If your protocol has a deadline or specific time constraint, please give yourself and the IRB enough lead time to complete the review before your deadline.
For study review schedule or if you are an investigator who would like to attend the meeting when your protocol is being discussed, please email [email protected].
Jucel Juleros Nazareno, BSN, RN IRB Manager
Priya Desai, IRB Analyst
