Institutional Review Board

IRB Structure

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s IRB oversees all human subjects research conducted at the University. The IRB is housed in the Department of Academic Affairs with the Provost and Dean of Faculties serving as the Institutional Official. The Institutional Official delegates the administration of the IRB to the Vice Provost for Faculties and Academic Affairs. The IRB Administrator is responsible for the maintenance of policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the IRB, the IRB support staff, and the functioning of the IRB.

The IRB is made up of members from the Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota community and one member external to the University. Per the requirements of the Office of Human Research Protections, the IRB includes members who are natural and social scientists and at least one non-scientists. The IRB is run by an IRB Chair and Vice Chair. Members are appointed to three-year terms by the Provost.

 Meeting Dates

The IRB meets monthly to review full review protocols and to discuss IRB business. If an application is determined to require full review, the protocol must have been submitted at least 14 days prior to a scheduled Full IRB meeting to be reviewed at that meeting. If you would like to request to attend an IRB meeting, please contact the IRB Coordinator at irb@smumn.edu. 

Regular meetings are held on the second Monday of each month from noon until 1pm.