The mission of the IRB is:

• To promote the rights and welfare of human research participants
• To facilitate excellence in human research by providing timely and high quality review of human research
• To provide professional guidance and support to the research community

The University of Pennsylvania is guided by the ethical principles set forth in Belmont Report. (Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research ). The minimum standards are set by the Department of Health and Human Services regulations at 45 CFR 46 and the Food and Drug Administration’s regulations at 21 CFR 50 and 21 CFR 56.

In June 2007, Penn’s human research protection program (including the IRBs) was awarded full accreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs. Accreditation standards establish the highest expectations for the conduct and oversight of human research.

Read a statement from Vincent Price, Provost and Steven J. Fluharty, Vice Provost for Research regarding Penn’s Human Research Protection Program