Human Subjects and Institutional Review Board (IRB)/OMB Approval

Title 34, Code of Federal regulations, Part 97, Protection of Human Subjects defines a human subject as a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains data through intervention or interaction with the individual or obtains private information.

Most of the requests to conduct research in the Wake County Public School System utilize information obtained from or about human subjects and are required to show that human subjects are protected. The majority of the requests come from colleges and universities, which have Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in place to review all research involving the use of human subjects; however, some requestors do not have convenient and/or free access to such boards. If requestors do not have access to an IRB, there are independent IRBs, which can review the research project for a fee. 

The IRB/OMB component of the application packet is crucial, thus a copy of IRB/OMB approval must be submitted at the time of application. No applications will be reviewed without an approved IRB.