The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is designated by Montclair State University to ensure that research involving human participants is conducted in compliance with federal and state laws and University policy. The IRB safeguards the rights, welfare, and privacy of research participants by ensuring that individuals are not exposed to undue risk and that informed consent is obtained freely and without coercion.
The IRB is authorized to review, approve the initiation of, and conduct periodic reviews of all research projects involving human participants conducted by faculty, staff, students, and guests affiliated with the University. Federal regulations require that investigators obtain prior dated and written IRB approval before beginning any human subjects research, regardless of funding source or funding status.
Before participants are recruited into prospective studies, the IRB reviews research protocols to ensure that appropriate protections are in place. The Board works collaboratively with investigators and research teams to promote ethical research design and regulatory compliance. Studies undergo continuing review at least biannually to ensure ongoing protection of participants.
The IRB is composed of members from diverse academic disciplines within the University as well as representatives from the broader community, allowing for thoughtful and individualized review of each proposal. Its processes are conducted in accordance with federal regulations developed to protect human subjects, with oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP).
Montclair State University’s Federalwide Assurance (FWA00005270), filed with the Department of Health and Human Services, formalizes the institution’s commitment to comply with these federal requirements.
This website provides investigators and the research community with the guidance, policies, and materials necessary to obtain IRB approval for research involving human participants.