Protecting Human Subjects from Research Risks
The Institutional Review Board (IRB)–Spokane is composed of approximately 25 board members, including technical experts, administrators, lay people, and clergy. The board meets on the second Thursday of each month to review research projects involving human subjects.

Specifically, the IRB–Spokane reviews protocols to ensure that:

• Patient safety and rights are maintained.
• Risks to subjects are minimized.
• Risks to subjects are justified in relation to anticipated benefits.
• The selection of subjects is equitable.
• Subjects will be informed of all procedures, costs, risks, and benefits of participating in a research study.

 The IRB–Spokane operates under the auspices of Inland Empire Hospital Services Association, a not-for-profit collaboration between Empire Health Services and Providence Health Care.

The IRB–Spokane adheres to regulations and guidelines provided by the Food and Drug Administration and the Office of Human Research Protections as they relate to IRBs.

Types of Reviews
The IRB–Spokane provides the following types of reviews:

• Emergency Use
• Exempt review
• Expedited review
• Facilitated review
• Full board review

All Researchers
If any portion of your research is conducted at Deaconess Medical Center, Holy Family Hospital, Sacred Heart Medical Center, St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute, and/or Valley Hospital and Medical Center, review and approval must be obtained from the IRB–Spokane.