IV-2.10- UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SYSTEM POLICY ON HUMAN SUBJECTS OF RESEARCH
(Approved by the Board of Regents, April 25, 1991; Amended by the Board on June 23, 2006;
Amended by the Board on December 12, 2008)
The policy of the University System of Maryland is to respect and protect the rights and welfare
of individuals. In the conduct of research, actions of the University System of Maryland and
its constituent institutions will be guided, to the extent that they are applicable, by principles
as set forth in such nationally accepted documents as the report of the National Commission
for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, Ethical Principles
and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research (April 18, 1979). Actions of
the University System of Maryland and its constituent institutions will also conform to
applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
In accordance with this policy, all University System of Maryland research activities
which involve human subjects, regardless of the level of risk foreseen, require review
and approval, prior to the initiation of the activity. An Institutional Review Board
(IRB) shall have jurisdiction over all reviews and approvals in accord with procedures
set forth in recognized documents, e.g. Federal Wide Assurance and/or applicable
regulations and policies including other policies adopted by the System or an institution.
OFFICIALS OF THE SYSTEM OR AN INSTITUTION MAY NOT APPROVE RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS
THAT HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY AN IRB. HOWEVER, OFFICIALS OF AN INSTITUTION MAY DISAPPROVE
RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY AN IRB; IRB APPROVAL IS NOT THE ONLY APPROVAL REQUIRED
FOR THE CONDUCT OF HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH.
Those research activities in which human subjects may be exposed to more than minimal risk
must be reviewed at a convened meeting of an IRB; other research activities may be reviewed
in the manner determined by the IRB under its procedures. An individual is considered to
be at more than minimal risk if exposed to the possibility of harm -- physical, psychological,
social, legal, or other -- as a consequence of participation as a human subject in any research
activity which departs from the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations
and tests, or which departs from established and accepted procedures necessary to meet the
individual's needs, or which increases the probability or magnitude of risks ordinarily
encountered in daily life.
This policy applies to all research activities and to all development, training, and improvement
or other related activities containing a research and development component. Furthermore, it
applies to any such activity performed on the premises of the University System of Maryland
or its constituent institutions and to any such activity performed elsewhere by faculty,
students, or employees under University System of Maryland auspices.
To carry out this policy the University System of Maryland institutions will maintain a
sufficient number of IRBs with appropriate membership to provide for adequate reviews.
The IRBs will have the authority to approve, to require modification as a condition of
approval, and to disapprove proposed activities that are covered by this policy.
Furthermore, the IRBs will have the authority to determine whether or not any activity
is covered by the policy and whether it requires review by an IRB. NO OFFICIAL OF THE
SYSTEM OR A CONSTITUENT INSTITUTION SHALL TAKE ANY ACTION INTENDED TO INFLUENCE OR
COERCE AN IRB, OR ANY OF ITS MEMBERS, TO APPROVE SPECIFIC RESEARCH.
Replacement for: BOR VII-5.00