IRB

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Ensuring Ethical Excellence in Research The BIIRAD Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an independent ethics review body established to ensure that all research involving human participants conducted by or affiliated with BIIRAD meets the highest standards of ethical conduct, scientific integrity, and participant protection. The BIIRAD IRB is committed to safeguarding the rights, safety, dignity, privacy, and well-being of research participants while promoting responsible and impactful research. Through rigorous ethical review processes, the IRB evaluates research proposals to ensure that studies are scientifically justified, ethically appropriate, and conducted in accordance with national and international research ethics standards.

Our Mission

The mission of the BIIRAD IRB is to protect human research participants by providing independent, transparent, and scientifically informed ethical oversight while facilitating high-quality research that contributes to health and social development.

The IRB aims to:

  • Ensure the ethical conduct of human participant research.
  • Protect the rights, safety, and welfare of research participants.
  • Review research protocols according to internationally recognized ethical principles.
  • Promote responsible research practices among investigators.
  • Strengthen research integrity and public trust in scientific research.

Scope of Review

The BIIRAD IRB reviews research involving human participants, including but not limited to:

  • Public health research
  • Epidemiological studies
  • Community-based research
  • Behavioral and social science research
  • Mental health research
  • Nutrition and health studies
  • Digital health and artificial intelligence-based research
  • Surveys, interviews, and qualitative research
  • Secondary data analysis involving human-related information

The IRB reviews research conducted by:

  • BIIRAD researchers
  • Research fellows and trainees
  • External collaborators
  • Academic and institutional partners

Ethical Principles Guiding BIIRAD IRB

The BIIRAD IRB follows internationally recognized ethical principles, including: Respect for Persons Ensuring voluntary participation, informed consent, and respect for individual autonomy. Beneficence and Non-Maleficence Ensuring that research maximizes potential benefits while minimizing possible risks and harms. Justice Ensuring fair selection of research participants and equitable distribution of research benefits. Research Integrity Promoting transparency, accountability, scientific validity, and responsible research practices.

IRB Review Process

1. Submission of Research Protocol
Researchers must submit a complete IRB application package, including:

  • Research protocol
  • Study objectives and methodology
  • Participant recruitment procedures
  • Informed consent documents
  • Data collection instruments
  • Data protection and
  • confidentiality plans
  • Risk-benefit assessment
  • Funding information (if applicable)

2. Ethical Review
The BIIRAD IRB evaluates submitted protocols based on:

  • Scientific and ethical justification
  • Protection of participant rights
  • Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
  • Privacy and confidentiality safeguards
  • Informed consent procedures
  • Vulnerability considerations

3. IRB Decision
Following review, the IRB may provide:

  • Approval
  • Approval with required modifications
  • Request for additional information
  • Disapproval with justification
  • Researchers must obtain
  • IRB approval before initiating research activities involving human participants.

Researcher Responsibilities

Researchers conducting BIIRAD-affiliated research are responsible for:

  • Obtaining IRB approval before starting research.
  • Conducting research according to approved protocols.
  • Protecting participant confidentiality.
  • Reporting protocol deviations or unexpected ethical concerns.
  • Submitting amendments for IRB review when necessary.

Providing progress updates and final reports when required.

BIIRAD IRB Committee

The BIIRAD IRB consists of multidisciplinary members with expertise in:

  • Public health research
  • Epidemiology
  • Behavioral sciences
  • Clinical and health research
  • Research ethics
  • Data management
  • Community perspectives

The diversity of expertise ensures comprehensive ethical evaluation of research proposals.

Research Ethics Training

BIIRAD encourages investigators and research trainees to develop strong foundations in research ethics.

The IRB supports capacity building through:

  • Research ethics training
  • Responsible conduct of research education
  • Guidance on informed consent and participant protection

Ethical considerations in community-based research

Submit an IRB Application

Researchers seeking ethical approval for BIIRAD-affiliated studies may submit their applications to the BIIRAD IRB.

Required documents should be prepared according to BIIRAD IRB submission guidelines.

For IRB-related inquiries:

📧 Email: irb@biirad.org

🌐 Website: https://www.biirad.org

Commitment to Ethical Research

At BIIRAD, ethical responsibility is fundamental to scientific excellence. Through independent ethical oversight, we aim to ensure that every research activity respects human dignity, protects participants, and contributes meaningful evidence for health and development.

BIIRAD IRB — Protecting Participants. Strengthening Research. Advancing Evidence.