Seattle University Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The Seattle University Institutional Review Board (IRB) serves two important roles: it ensures that the University is complying with federal requirements for research involving human subjects, and assists the University achieve its goal of academic excellence.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why does Seattle University have an IRB?

• This federal requirement is part of the legacy of scientific abuses of vulnerable populations, such as occurred in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the Nazi Medical War Crimes. 

Who needs to submit to the IRB?

• If your proposed research meets the federal definition of research: “Research means a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge,” (§46.102 Definitions).
  AND 
• You will be working with human research subjects.
  AND 
• You plan to publish or present it at a conference outside of the University. 

Who does NOT need to submit to the IRB?

• If you are not doing research as referred to above in the §46.102 Definitions of the Basic HHS Policy for the Protection of Human Research Subjects.
• If you are conducting an in-class evaluation of students or faculty.
  OR 
• You are not conducting normal evaluative processes such as program and departmental reviews.

What is the difference between Exempt, Expedited and Full Board protocol reviews?

• Type of research conducted, (visit IRB Submission Instructions, pgs. 5-7 for more details)
• The number of reviewers assigned to each type of review (Exempt = one reviewer, Expedited = two reviewers, Full Board = entire committee)
• Full Board reviews have submission deadlines, but Exempt and Expedited reviews do not and can be submitted at anytime.
• Regardless of type, all reviews take approximately one month to complete, except reviews that include prisoner research (which require more time).

For more FAQs 

IRB Members:

Bruce Koch, Albers School of Business and Economics, IRB Chair
(206) 296-5815
kochb@seattleu.edu 

A. Daktari Alexander, College of Arts and Sciences
Deirdre Bowen, School of Law
Bonnie Buchanan, Albers School of Business and Economics
William O'Connell, College of Education
Carolyn Coffin, College of Science and Engineering
Lori Cray, College of Nursing
Michelle DuBois, College of Science and Engineering
Paul Holland, School of Law (Prisoner Advocate - ad hoc member)
Colette Hoption, Albers School of Business and Economics 
Patrick Murphy, College of Nursing
Stefan Shipman, External Member
Samuel Song, College of Education
Galen Trail, College of Arts and Sciences

Shawn Bell, IRB Coordinator
Andrea McDowell, Ph.D. IRB Administrator