IRB Basics - Human Research Protection Program

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday,
8am - 5pm

Mailing Address:
Michigan State University, 202 Olds Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824.

Phone: (517) 355-2180
Fax: (517) 432-4503
Email: irb@msu.edu

Office Location:
202 Olds Hall.
Olds Hall is located between the Administration Building and MSU Main Library. Campus Map

About the IRBs at Michigan State University

At MSU, there are three IRBs:

MSU IRBs are charged with reviewing and approving research projects involving human subjects before the research is started.

IRB members include faculty from MSU’s colleges, MSU graduate students, members from CRIRB partner institutions, and non-affiliated, community members. Members of MSU’s IRBs are nominated by deans and others and appointed by the Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies.

Principles Governing IRB Review

Institutional Review Boards, like MSU IRBs, are mandated to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects. IRBs consider a number of basic criteria that are based in doctrines such as the Belmont Report and codified in federal regulations. The basic criteria include:

Risk/benefit ratio
Selection of subjects
Informed consent
Privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity
Incentives for participation
Potential for conflicts of interest