About the IRB

The IRB is a committee responsible for reviewing research proposals submitted by SJSU students, faculty, and staff that involve the use of human subjects. IRB members make sure that the proposed research is in compliance with university policy, and state and federal regulations established to ensure the safety of research participants and the ethical and responsible conduct of investigators.

If you plan on pursuing research with human participants either through direct interaction (interviews, surveys, experimental interventions, etc.) or through the use of private records about individuals, an application must be submitted to and approved by the IRB before the research begins.

Institutional Information

The SJSU IRB operates under a federalwide assurance (FWA) that provides assurance that the institution receiving federal support will follow the regulations for human subjects found in 45CFR46

Our FWA number is 00002539.

FWA info for SJSU and other institutions is available through the US Department of Health and Human Sevices publicly searchable database.

Personnel 

Insitutional Official (IO)
Dr. Richard Mocarski 
Associate Vice President for Research.

Senior Director of Research Services
Dr. Jessica Trask

Human Protections Analyst
Alena Filip

IRB committee membership information is posted and updated on the Academic Senate website.

Regulations Related to Human Subjects Research Protections

SJSU Policy for Protection of Human Research Subjects [pdf]

Code of Federal Regulations for the Protection of Human Subjects

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule

Regulatory Bodies

Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP)

SJSU Academic Senate