IRB Membership
How the Riverside University Health System IRB is composed, what members do, and the federal assurances and resources that support the board's work.
What Is the IRB's Mission?
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee that reviews and monitors research involving human subjects to ensure compliance with federal regulations, state laws, local policies, and established ethical principles—protecting the rights, safety, and well-being of individuals participating in research studies.
Research regulations are heavily based on a philosophy of peer-based self-regulation at the institutional level. An independent, well-trained, and fully engaged IRB is critical to the success of this philosophy. We recruit individuals who have expertise in different areas. This diversity helps ensure that protocols are evaluated fairly by knowledgeable individuals. Members are selected from community members and faculty in a variety of disciplines. For the review process to work well, we seek individuals who are inquisitive, assertive, and diligent throughout the review process. The identity of individual IRB protocol reviewers is kept confidential from researchers at the institution.
Board Composition
Our IRB members are sufficiently qualified through their experience, expertise, and diversity (45 CFR 46.107). Each IRB has a minimum of five members.
- At least one member with a scientific background
- At least one member with a non-scientific background
- At least one member not affiliated with RUHS
- Representatives of administration
- Alternate membersWho may represent IRB members, provided the alternate's qualifications are comparable to the primary member being replaced.
Length of Service & Attendance
Appointments to the IRBs are for a period of two years, and members can serve unlimited consecutive terms. Continued tenure on the IRB is at the discretion of the HRPP Director in consultation with the IRB Chair.
If a member is unable to attend a meeting, the IRB office must be informed sufficiently in advance so that an alternate can be invited to attend. Frequent absences will be cause for removal.
Member Duties
Members of each IRB, or their designated alternates, are required to:
- Participate in the agreed-upon number of convened IRB meetings
- Review applications and consent formsReview the IRB application and informed consent form for research proposals.
- Complete written critiques when assignedIncluding review of the clinical trial protocol, questionnaires, advertisements, investigator's drug brochure, and informed consent form when assigned as a reviewer by the Chair or IRB staff.
- Review expedited actionsReview expedited actions of the Chair and IRB designee.
- Help maintain accurate minutesReview and promptly inform the Chair of corrections or additions to Full Board meeting minutes.
- Serve as expedited reviewers if appointedSelected members may review changes to previously approved research that do not alter the original approval criteria. Additional training is provided to members appointed as expedited reviewers.
Federal Assurance & Registration
RUHS's commitment to protecting human subjects is formalized through its federal assurance and IRB registration.
Federalwide Assurance (FWA)
The Federal Policy (Common Rule) requires each institution engaged in federally supported human-subjects research to file an Assurance with the DHHS Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP). The FWA formalizes the institution's commitment to protect human subjects; its expiration date is revised each time RUHS's FWA is modified.
FWA Number: 00018868
Document Type: Assurances (FWAs)
IRB Registration
The RUHS IRB is registered with OHRP, and the medical IRBs are registered with OHRP and the FDA. Registration can be verified as active through the OHRP database.
IRB (IORG) Number: IORG00007787
Document Type: Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)
Member Documents & Worksheets
Rosters, calendars, review forms, and application materials for current IRB members. Links are managed by the IRB office.
Membership Roster (2026)
Current IRB membership roster.
IRB Meeting Calendar (2026)
Scheduled Full Board meeting dates for the year.
Exempt Review Categories & Reviewer Form
IRB members' worksheet.
Informed Consent Review Form
IRB members' worksheet.
Initial New Research Review Form
IRB members' worksheet.
Device Risk Determination Form
IRB members' worksheet.
Expedited Review Form
For members appointed as expedited reviewers.
Conflict of Interest — IRB Members
Part of the IRB membership application.
IRBNet — Required Training
Required training for IRB membership.
CITI Training — Required Training
Required training for IRB membership.
Internet Research & Group Harms
Reference presentation (PowerPoint).
Video Resources
Short educational videos on IRB fundamentals and human-subjects protection.