Institutional Review Board

About Us

The McMurry University IRB is composed of members with diverse backgrounds, including scientific and non-scientific representatives, ensuring a comprehensive review process. We are committed to supporting ethical research that advances knowledge and benefits society.

IRB Overview

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) at McMurry University is dedicated to ensuring the ethical conduct of research involving human and animal subjects. Our primary mission is to protect the rights, welfare, and well-being of research participants while facilitating valuable scientific inquiry.

The IRB reviews, monitors, and approves research projects to ensure they comply with federal regulations, ethical principles, and university policies. Our responsibilities include:

Reviewing Research Proposals: Evaluating research protocols to ensure ethical standards are met.
Ensuring Informed Consent: Verifying that researchers obtain and document informed consent from research participants.
Monitoring Compliance: Conducting ongoing reviews of approved research to ensure continued compliance.
Providing Guidance: Offering resources and support to researchers on ethical issues and regulatory requirements.

The IRB is essential for maintaining the integrity of research, protecting research participants, and ensuring the high ethical standards of McMurry University. Our review process helps:

Protect Participants: Ensuring that the risks to participants are minimized and justified by the potential benefits.
Maintain Ethical Standards: Upholding the principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice as outlined in the Belmont Report.
Ensure Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to guidelines set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other regulatory bodies.

Belmont Report (English) Belmont Report (Spanish)

Researchers intending to conduct studies involving human or animal subjects must submit their proposals to the IRB for review. Here’s how you can get started:

Training: Complete the required human subjects protection training at citiprogram.org
Submission: Prepare your research proposal and submit it through our electronic submission system.
Review Process: Your submission will undergo initial screening, followed by full board, expedited, or exempt review as appropriate.
Approval: Upon approval, you may begin your research, adhering to any conditions set forth by the IRB.

Understanding Your Rights

Participants in research studies have the right to:

Informed Consent: Receive complete information about the study and voluntarily agree to participate.
Confidentiality: Expect that their personal information will be protected.
Safety: Be assured that the study has been reviewed to minimize risks.

McMurry University prioritizes ethical research to uphold its commitment to integrity, academic excellence, and societal responsibility. By fostering a culture of ethical inquiry, the university ensures that research conducted under its auspices adheres to the highest standards of honesty, respect, and fairness. This dedication not only safeguards the rights and well-being of research participants but also enhances the credibility and impact of the research findings. Ethical
research practices at McMurry University promote trust and collaboration among researchers, participants, and the broader community, reinforcing the institution’s role as a leader in producing knowledge that benefits society. Ultimately, by emphasizing ethical research, McMurry University aims to contribute to the advancement of human understanding while maintaining the public’s confidence in the academic process.

Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program

What is CITI Training?
The CITI program is the standard in research, ethics, compliance, and safety training. McMurry University works in collaboration with CITI to prepare researchers to conduct ethical research projects that complement the academic excellence and integrity of our university.

Who needs CITI training?
Any researcher at McMurry University that is conducting research involving human or animal subjects and requires IRB approval and oversight.

How do I get started?
Register your account and start your training classes at:
citiprogram.org

What if I have questions about CITI training?
Questions can be directed to:
David W. Wahl, Ph.D.
wahl.david@mcm.edu
325-793-4802

Reporting Concerns

The Director of the McMurry University IRB is responsible for maintaining effective mechanisms by which individuals may report alleged violations of applicable laws, regulations, rules, policies, and procedures. Reportable incidents might include issues regarding the safety of human research participants, animal welfare, biohazards control and safety, or any ethical concern in the carrying out of research. All reports will be kept confidential.

What happens when a report is filed?

Upon receiving a report of alleged noncompliance, the Director of the IRB will work with the Principal Investigator (PI) of the research project to understand what led to the reported concern. The director prepares a report of the incident, which is sent to the PI, the PI’s department chair, and the VPAA of McMurry University.

After the director and PI verifies the accuracy of the report, it is sent to the IRB review committee to go through the normal review process. The committee then makes its recommendations for any corrective actions and forwards those to the Director of the IRB and the VPAA for review and approval. The Institution has the authority to impose additional corrective actions to reestablish compliance for the project, prevent similar situations in the future, and reinforce the high ethical standards of research at McMurry University.

Concerns about research practices at McMurry University may be reported to:
David W. Wahl, IRB Director, McMurry University
wahl.david@mcm.edu

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Ready to submit your proposal?

To submit your proposal you will need the following:

Completed IRB Application
All supporting documents

Deadlines for submissions:

Applications are the 15^th of January, March, May, July, September, and November.
Honors thesis proposals are March 1 for the Spring semester and October 1 for the Fall semester.

If you have questions please contact:
David W. Wahl, Ph.D.
wahl.david@mcm.edu
325-793-4802

Submit Proposal