We are an administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of animal and human research subjects recruited to participate in research activities conducted under the auspices of the institution with which it is affiliated.

The IRB is charged with the responsibility of reviewing, prior to its initiation, all research (whether funded or not) involving human and animal participants. The IRB is concerned with protecting the welfare, rights, and privacy of human subjects, as well as the human handling and use of animals. The IRB has the authority to approve, disapprove, monitor, and require modifications in all research activities that fall within its jurisdiction as specified by both the federal regulations and institutional policy. The IRB shall have at least five members of varying backgrounds in order to provide complete and adequate review of human/animal research and its institutional, legal, scientific, and social implications. The Board will also include at least one member who is not affiliated with the institution and one member who is not a scientist. The IRB can have several consultants who advise the Board and are periodically involved in protocol review.

For all IRB inquiries and research proposal submissions, please contact:

Meleesa Wohleber, DHSc, LAT, ATC, IRB Chair
Institutional Review Board
West Virginia Wesleyan College
wohleber.m@wvwc.edu
304-473-8002