IRB Review Requirements for Human Subjects Research

The WCMC-Q Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for the protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects in research. The IRB accomplishes this by ensuring that all human subjects research conducted at WCMC-Q and/or by WCMC-Q faculty, staff and students meets the highest ethical standards and complies with all applicable regulations, including Qatari law.

WCMC-Q IRB must review and approve all research involving human subjects that is conducted by WCMC-Q faculty, staff, or students, and all research that involves WCMC-Q resources, funding or private information. Specifically, WCMC-Q IRB approval or exemption is required prior to the conduct of all research that meets any of the following criteria:

• Research conducted by or under the direction of any faculty, staff or students of WCMC-Q in connection with their institutional responsibilities, regardless of the source of funding.
• Research whose conduct or recruitment involves the use of WCMC-Q resources. This includes research involving the use of WCMC-Q property, and research funded through WCMC-Q.
• Research involving the use of WCMC-Q's non-public information, such as student records or medical records. The use of such information to identify or recruit potential human subjects also requires IRB approval or exemption.

US DHHS FWA

The WCMC-Q IRB is covered under the Weill Cornell Medical College’s (WCMC) Federalwide Assurance (FWA) with the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office for Human Research Protections. The WCMC FWA number is FWA00000093. The WCMC-Q IRB’s registration number is 00006915.

Exemption from IRB Review

Some research involving human subjects may qualify for exemption from IRB approval. For example, research involving completely anonymous data or publicly available data may qualify for exemption. Please note, however, that the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs must make an official determination of exemption from IRB approval. Investigators may not make an exemption determination on their own.

Training in the Protection of Human Subjects

All individuals engaged in WCMC-Q human subjects research are required to complete training in the protection of human subjects offered by Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) group. Researchers are required to complete the human research course for biomedical researchers offered by CITI.

WCMC-Q IRB Applications and Forms
Instructions on submitting to the WCMC-Q IRB and completing the IRB application form, and templates for the WCMC-Q IRB consent documents are available at the WCMC-Q Intranet.

IRB Members

WCMC-Q IRB Policies and Procedures

• WCMC-Q IRB Policy Manual 
• WCMC-Q IRB Procedures    

WMC IRB Policies & Procedures

Contact IRB: