Statue of St. Ambrose outside Ambrose Hall.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The St. Ambrose University Institutional Review Board (IRB) is established in compliance with Federal regulations to review and approve all research involving human participants.

Registration

  • IORG 0005277
  • IRB 00006347
  • FWA 00019224

Policy declaration

It is the policy of the University that no research conducted under the jurisdiction of the University exposes persons who participate as participants or respondents to unreasonable risks to their health, general well-being, or privacy. Further, it is the policy of the University that no research conducted under its jurisdiction should be contrary to the mission of the institution.

Specifically, the University is concerned that in all research, development, and related activities involving the use of human participants:

  • The rights and welfare of the individuals involved are adequately protected.
  • The participation of participants is based on freely given informed consent; and the individual is free to withdraw consent and discontinue participation at any time without loss of benefits or other negative consequences.
  • The risks to the participant are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits to the participant and the importance of the knowledge to be gained as to warrant a decision to allow the participant to accept these risks.

Therefore all research activities involving the use of human participants are submitted for prior review by the University Institutional Review Board to (1) ensure that the above conditions are met, and (2) encourage and promote a high level of campus awareness and communication regarding University research projects.

Primary responsibility for assuring that the rights and welfare of the individuals involved are protected continues to rest with the principal investigators conducting research involving the use of human participants. This responsibility is shared by others engaged in the conduct of the research. Faculty or staff members who assign or supervise research conducted by students have an obligation to consider carefully whether those students are qualified to safeguard adequately the rights and welfare of participants.

Download the full SAU Institutional Review Board (IRB) Policy (pdf) for detailed information on topics including human subjects research, review categories, and violations and sanctions.

Members

College of Arts and Sciences

College of Health and Human Services

  • Dana Dailey, PhD, scientist IRB member (Doctor of Physical Therapy Program)
  • Kyle Bohnert, PhD, ACUC animal scientist, at-large IRB general member (Exercise Science/Kinesiology Department) 

Other members

  • Regina Matheson, PhD, Ex Officio Member and Institutional Representative (no vote)
  • Dana Lawrence, Outside Member