Office of Research Compliance

The Mission of the FAMU Institutional Review Board is to protect the welfare of human subject participants by compliance with the federal regulations governing the protection of human subjects, and facilitating the research efforts of FAMU faculty, students and staff. The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) oversees the operation of the IRB, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforces regulations for the use of experimental drugs and devices. The IRB is a committee composed of scientists and laypersons who review all proposed FAMU human subjects research to ensure that the safety and welfare of subjects are protected. All human subject research requires review and approval by an IRB prior to subject recruitment and data collection, and prior to the use of extant data or private information. The FAMU IRB members have the responsibility for reviewing all research involving human subjects conducted by FAMU faculty, students, or staff, regardless of the source of funding.

Research Using Human Subjects
The Florida A&M University is committed to the ethical principles for the protection of human subjects in research as set forth in the Belmont Report of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research (1979)

The ethical principles are:

• Respect for persons - which includes the requirement of a voluntary informed consent process
• Beneficence – which entails an obligation to protect persons from harm by minimizing risks and maximizing benefits
• Justice – which requires that selection of subjects be fair and equitable and that particular care be taken when working with populations (i.e. children, decisionally impaired) whose status puts them in a vulnerable position.

Back to top

The policies and procedures relating to human subject’s research contained in this manual, comprise the basic minimum procedures that the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Institutional Review Board (IRB) uses in its review processes. These guidelines are written in accordance with the Department of Health and Human Services regulations governing research involving human subjects at 45 CFR 46 and follow the principles of the 1979 Belmont Report, which specifies the ethical principles for the protection of human subjects (See Appendix D for the Belmont Report and Appendix E for 45 CFR 46). Both the membership of the IRB and any prospective researchers who intend to use human subjects in their research projects are reminded that this document establishes the basic minimum of policies and procedures and does not include every possibility for the variation in research protocols involving human subjects.

The purpose of this guidebook is twofold: to assist the IRB in reviewing research involving human subjects and to assist and provide guidance to researchers planning to conduct research involving human subjects. The review of human subject’s research at FAMU is a collaborative process intended to result in mutually acceptable research procedures that protect the rights and welfare of research participants while aiding investigators in accomplishing their scientific objectives. Every effort is made to adopt creative administrative and other means to reduce administrative burdens and maximize attention to the most important ethical issues. To this end, the IRB tries to be as flexible as possible and reviews each project as a separate case rather than simply imposing rigid requirements, and every attempt is made to consider all factors in determining the outcome of the review. The IRB encourages consultation at all stages of the research process. All IRB applications must be uploaded to the IRBNet system at www.IRBNet.org

IRB Guidelines

 

Back to top

Effective November 8, 2014, Florida A&M University Institutional Review Board (IRB) will only accept new submissions electronically through IRBNet. The next step is to utilize IRBNet for IRB protocol amendments and extensions and we anticipate requiring use of IRBNet for such activities by December 2, 2014 (see Guide for Submitting Amendments and Extensions for Old Projects in IRBNet)

IRBNET

 

Back to top

 

Back to top

Charles Weatherford, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research
Florida A&M University
charles.weatherford@famu.edu

Back to top

The Institutional Review Board meets the third Thursday of each month. Below is a listing of the application deadline date as well as the IRB Board meeting date.

Meeting Dates and Deadlines All Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. of the deadline date. 

 

Back to top

The Vice President for Research has the responsibility for enforcing IBC decisions and recommendations based on federal and institutional policies and procedures.  The IBC membership is comprised of faculty members selected that they collectively have experience and expertise in recombinant DNA technology, biological safety, and physical containment; and at least one community member who represents the interest of the surrounding community.  Membership reflects basic federal requirements for expertise and advocacy; additional members are added as necessary or appropriate. All IBC applications must be uploaded to the IRBNet system at www.IRBNet.org

Name	Email
Hernan A Flores-Rozas, Ph.D. Committee Chairperson College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Florida A&M University	hernan.floresroazas@famu.edu
Dr. Ramesh Badisa Research Professor Florida A&M University	ramesh.badisa@famu.edu
Dr. Caroline O Odewumi Professor Florida A&M University Department of Biology	caroline.odewumi@famu.edu
Derek Dupont Governmental Specialist, Retired State Department	derekdupont@gmail.com
Dr. Robert J. Tomko Associate Professor Biomedical Sciences	robert.tomko@med.fsu.edu
Dr. Ramesh Katam Associate Professor Florida A&M University Department of Biology	ramesh.katam@famu.edu
Tanise L. Jackson, DVM, DACLAM, CPIA Director, Animal Welfare and Research Integrity Research Integrity Officer OpEx AHC Yellow Belt Certification Florida A&M University	tanise.jackson@famu.edu

 

Back to top

Charles Weatherford, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research
Florida A&M University
charles.weatherford@famu.edu

Back to top

The Institutional Biosafety Committee meets the third Wednesday of each month.  Below is a listing of the application deadline date as well as the IBC Board meeting date.

All Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. of the deadline date.

 

Back to top

IBC Application Form

 

Back to top

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) reviews all projects involving animals to ensure that they are justified by their benefits and minimize any animal pain or suffering that might occur. This includes research and teaching at Florida A&M University.

The IACUC regularly inspects all projects using animals and all projects housing animals along with the University's Animal Care Facility (ACF) staff. The ACF provides for and disseminates information on the care, health and well-being of animals at the University.

The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is comprised of 10 members representing University faculty, staff, students, and the local community.

The IACUC meets once a month to review animal research and related issues.

 

Back to top

 

Back to top

Charles Weatherford, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research
Florida A&M University
charles.weatherford@famu.edu

Back to top

All Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. of the deadline date.

Back to top

FAMU Facilities Department Access Form

Information for Non-Animal Contact 2022

Back to top