National Academies Institutional Review Board

As an institution that from time to time conducts biomedical and behavioral research involving human subjects, the National Academies is committed to assuring the safety and privacy of individuals who are the subjects of studies undertaken on its behalf. These responsibilities are prescribed in federal regulations for the protection of human subjects of research (45 CFR 46).

The National Academies -- comprising the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council – has given assurance to the federal Department of Health and Human Services that it complies with these regulations. The National Academies have an Institutional Review Board, called the Committee to Review Studies Involving Human Subjects, which carries out the institution’s responsibilities for reviewing research protocols to assure that the objectives of 45 CFR 46 are met, independent of the sources of funds that support the respective projects.

In addition, the National Academy of Sciences has a special relationship with the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Japan, and several NAS employees are assigned to conduct and manage research at that institution. Consequently, the NAS is also responsible for assuring the safety and privacy of individuals who are the subjects of studies undertaken at RERF. RERF has given assurance to DHHS that it complies with 45 CFR 46, and it maintains the Human Investigations Committee to discharge the responsibilities of an IRB. Because the HIC operates at RERF facilities in Japan, consistent with Federal regulations, the NAS and RERF have formally agreed that the National Academies IRB may rely on the RERF HIC to protect the safety and privacy of individuals participating in RERF research.