Human Subjects
University policy requires that all research involving human subjects be reviewed
and approved by the USA Institutional Review Board (IRB) before the research begins.
This applies to all human subject’s research conducted by faculty, staff, and students,
on- and off-campus, regardless of funding. The IRB is a committee established under
federal regulations for the protection of human subjects in research (45CFR 46). Its
purpose is to help protect the rights and welfare of human participants in research
conducted under the auspices of the University of South Alabama.
Research involving human subjects includes the collection of data about or from human
subjects and the use of existing data or specimens. Any changes to an IRB-approved
project must be reviewed and approved by the IRB before they can be implemented.
The USA IRB requires Principal Investigators and all other research key personnel
to complete and document appropriate training in the protection of human subjects.
