IRB and Human Subjects Research

The Catawba Valley Medical Center Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for ethical and regulatory oversight of research at CVMC involving human subjects. All research involving human subjects or information about human subjects, which are patients or employees of CVMC, must be reviewed and approved by the IRB before research begins.

The purpose of IRB review is to assure human subjects are ethically and responsibly treated. CVMC is committed to protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects. Consistent with this commitment, the IRB ensures that:

• The rights and safety of human subjects are adequately protected
• The risks to subjects are outweighed by the potential benefits of the research
• Research investigators are properly trained in the protection of human research subjects
• Research conducted with human subjects conforms to all applicable local, state, federal laws and regulations, and CVMC policies