Human Subjects (IRB)

The mission of the NC State University IRB Office is to advocate for and protect human subjects participating in research by working with investigators to facilitate ethical and compliant research. The IRB values beneficence, justice and respect for persons. We operationalize these values by practicing transparency, collaboration, education, and communication with researchers and participants.

We review all proposed research through the lenses of ethics and compliance before it is implemented by NC State University researchers. As part of this review process, the IRB asks what the research is about, why the research is important, and how the researcher plans to carry out the project — including who the study participants will be, how the data will be collected and stored, and a number of other important details. 

Our office maintains common-sense administrative policies to promote the efficient and effective review of all proposed research involving humans. We educate and train others in practical ethics, legal compliance, and social justice as it relates to research with humans — aiming to minimize risks and maximize benefits. We intervene, when necessary, in research to serve as a participant advocate and an accountability board. 

Throughout the research process, the IRB serves as an advocate for all people in research, while also serving as the regulatory body that holds researchers accountable to ethical and compliant standards when completing research with human subjects.