Chapter 6 - IRB Committees

Sufficient Number

The IRB is comprised of a sufficient number of standing IRB committees to permit the adequate, appropriate, and timely review of human subject research activities that fall under its authority.

There will be a minimum of one IRB committee meeting each week of each month with the exception of those weeks that the University is closed due to a holiday or in other circumstances as determined by the HRP Leadership Team. IRB members and investigators are provided, in advance, with a schedule of the dates of IRB committee meetings for the calendar year.

Each IRB committee has been delegated authority to function as a separate IRB under common administration and direction of the IRB Chair and Vice Chairs, and legal counsel to the IRB.

Should exigent circumstances arise, the IRB Chair may request the formation of a special IRB committee. The special IRB committee must be comprised of a minimum of 5 members or alternate members of the standing IRB committees, and must meet all of the requirements for IRB committee membership as addressed under Chapter 7.

The IRB Executive Committee (Committee F)

The IRB Executive Committee (Committee F) is a fully constituted IRB comprised, at a minimum, of the following voting members: the IRB Chair, the IRB Vice Chairs, HRP Director, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, and at least one non-scientific member and one non-affiliated member.  Consultants to the Committee include: Legal Counsel of the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, representatives from Education and Compliance Support for Human Subject Research and the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Protections.  

The IRB Executive Committee is responsible for decisions, directives and sanctions related to known or suspected problems in the conduct of human subject research.  This body is also responsible for the review and approval of appropriate policies, procedures and guidelines directed at human subject protections and the functions and activities of the IRB.

Subcommittees and Task Forces

HRP Leadership may form subcommittees/task forces on an ad hoc basis to address various specific issues related to the use of human subjects in research and human subject protections.

Compliance Activity Review Subcommittee (CARS)

The purpose of CARS is to review, deliberate and provide recommendations for compliance activity reports and to identify matters that may require IRB review.  The CARS is comprised of the IRB Chair or designee, the IRB Regulatory Affairs Specialist, the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Protections, the ECS-HSR Director and the ECS-HSR staff.  In cases where the CARS determines that the compliance activity report and associated RNIs must be reviewed by the IRB Executive Committee (Committee F), the IRB Regulatory Affairs Specialist will include the item(s) on the agenda of an IRB EC meeting.   The CARS meeting minutes are provided to the IRB Executive Committee (Committee F) for informational review.

1/9/2024