Institutional Review Board

Atrium Health Institutional Review Board operates under the guidance of the Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. This report, commonly referred to as the Belmont Report, contains ethical principles regarding all research involving human subjects as identified by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. All sites within Atrium Health are required by Atrium Health to conform to ethical principles of the highest standard as may be determined by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) or Office of Civil Rights (OCR).

Prior to the initiation of any human subject involvement in research within Atrium Health, the IRB must review:

• Risks to subjects
• Anticipated benefits to subjects and others potentially affected by the research
• Specific process of informed consent to be employed

The Atrium Health IRB also serves as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Board for the review of clinical research based on federal HIPAA regulations.

The Atrium Health IRB consists of two committees, each of which meets monthly. The committees are composed of highly qualified individuals with scientific and non-scientific backgrounds, educated in and dedicated to ensuring the protection of human subjects in the conduct of clinical trials.

The IRB is experienced in the review of:

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Office for Human Research Protection (OHRP) Regulated Studies 
• Phase I-IV drug studies in all therapeutic areas 
• Device Studies
• Biologic Studies
• Observational/Registry Studies
• Social-Behavioral Studies

Atrium Health IRB complies with all federal regulations pertaining to the protection of human research subjects. Atrium Health has a Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) and each IRB is registered with the OHRP.

FWA: 00000387  IORG: 0000740  

IRB registration:
Committee A - IRB00001088
Committee B - IRB00001103

Since 2006 Atrium Health has outsourced IRB review of Phase III/IV industry-sponsored Drug Trials research to Copernicus Group IRB, an independent IRB. 

Since 2012, Atrium Health has outsourced IRB review of Levine Cancer Institute Oncology Clinical Trials to Chesapeake IRB, an independent IRB.

Contact Information:

Jane Flax, Staff Assistant
Institutional Review Board
704-355-3158