Institutional Review Board
For Student, Staff, and Faculty Researchers
IRB review and application process information is now available on the and is no longer accessed through this webpage.
What is the Institutional Review Board?
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews research with human participants to ensure the dignity, privacy, and wellbeing of individuals are protected. The IRB emphasizes the consent process to support informed participation in research. The IRB office is part of Faculty Advancement & Research within the division of Academic Affairs.
The Institutional Review Board's purpose is to review proposed research studies involving human participants to safeguard the rights, safety, and welfare of people involved in research activities conducted at or sponsored by the University of St. Thomas. The University is officially registered in a Federalwide Assurance with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through which the University assures that all activities related to human subjects research, regardless of source of support, will be approved by the IRB in accordance with federal regulations and ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report.
As a Catholic institution, the mission of the University of St. Thomas obligates members of the college community "to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good." The research community can support the University mission by striving to ensure the respect and welfare of every research participant.
Contact Us
Sarah Muenster-Blakley, M.A., CIP
Director
Institutional Review Board
(651) 962-6035
muen0526@stthomas.edu
Monday- Friday, 8:00am- 4:30pm
Sarah is available to meet with researchers and participants on Zoom. Contact her by email to schedule a meeting.
Federalwide Assurance
IRB Structure
The IRB at the University of St. Thomas receives approximately 250 submissions each year for new projects, amendments, continuations, and other requests. There are thirteen (13) IRB members who serve to review research projects with human subjects. The IRB is comprised of ten faculty members from departments that regularly submit projects involving human subjects, one director who serves as an IRB member, and two community representatives without any prior or current affliation with the University.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Research
The Institutional Review Board seeks to support excellence in scholarly research by emphasizing the importance of ethics and justice in human subjects research from research design to publication and beyond as research impacts policies and communities. The IRB considers the diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences among human subjects research stakeholders (researchers, research team personnel, participants, and others) to be valuable and critical for advancing research with trust and integrity. Furthermore, the IRB embraces any and all differences among the researchers, research team personnel, and participants it serves and does not discriminate based on factors such as age, country of origin, disability status, ethnicity, gender identity, marital status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or veteran status.
Supporting Antiracist Research
The Institutional Review Board will not approve research which seeks to prove or expose a problem with any individual, group, or community. As the states, racist research asks, "What is wrong with people?" Alternatively, antiracist research asks, "What is wrong with policies?" As such, the IRB encourages research that examines problematic policies, systems, and procedures rather than individuals, peoples, or communities. If a submitted project is not approvable as designed, the IRB will recommend changes to the project design and/or research questions.
Diversity in IRB Membership
In compliance with federal regulations (45 CFR 46), the IRB is comprised of ten faculty members, the IRB chair, and two community representatives without any past or current affiliation with the University of St. Thomas. Faculty IRB members must represent academic disciplines regularly reviewed by the IRB and have diversity of background. The IRB strives to maintain a diverse membership and finds significant value in seeking IRB members who have backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences that are different from other members.
Consultants and Advisors
When a project is submitted for review involving participant communities with backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences different from those represented on the IRB, the IRB will seek consultants or advisors from the participant communities to ensure an inclusive and just review of research.