Institutional Review Board #1

The IRB is a DSHS committee charged with reviewing all DSHS-affiliated* human subjects research and DSHS data requests needing approval by an independent board. This includes human subjects research contracted to public or private entities. The primary purpose of the IRB review is to insure the safety, rights and welfare of human participants involved in research.

There are two IRBs at DSHS, each with the responsibility to protect human subjects in DSHS research or using their DSHS data.

• IRB #1 reviews DSHS-affiliated* social, behavioral, educational, and health science research.
• IRB #2 reviews DSHS-affiliated* mental health, mental retardation, and substance abuse research. View the DSHS IRB #2 website.

The DSHS IRB #1 has taken on the following additional tasks:

• The IRB acts as a Scientific Review Panel (SRP) for the Texas Health Care Information Collection (THCIC). The THCIC collects and provides hospital discharge data. Applications received require review by an SRP to ensure the science the data request is based on is not flawed.
• The IRB also acts as a Committee on Requests for Personal Data (CORPD). The CORPD reviews personal data requests involving birth and death records/certificates.

*Affiliated Activities. A DSHS affiliated activity is one that is sponsored or co-sponsored by DSHS; is conducted by or under the direction of any employee or agent of DSHS in connection with institutional responsibilities, using any DSHS property or facility; or involves the use of DSHS non-public information to identify or contact human research subjects or prospective subjects.

Last Updated June 1, 2007