Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024
(a)
Ethical
principles. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services Institutional
Review Board (DHSIRB) is guided by the ethical principles regarding research
involving human subjects set forth in the report of the National Commission for
the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research
entitled, " Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human
Subjects of Research" or "The Belmont Report." The DHSIRB recognizes the
principles of respect for persons; beneficence, including minimization of harms
and maximization of benefits; and justice as stated in The Belmont Report and
strives to apply these principles in all research covered by this Part. In
addition, DHSIRB makes all reasonable efforts to comply with the requirements
in Part 46 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations ( 45 C.F.R. Part 46)
for all research subject to its review.
(b)
Institutional policies.
(1) DHSIRB acknowledges and accepts its
responsibility for protecting the rights and welfare of human research
subjects.
(2) DHSIRB acknowledges
that it, and its investigators, accept those responsibilities necessary for the
performance of all research covered by this Part including compliance with
applicable federal, state, and local laws.
(3) DHSIRB works to ensure that, before
subjects are involved in research, the requirements in (A) - (G) are met.
(A) Risks to participants are minimized by:
(i) using procedures consistent with sound
research design that do not unnecessarily expose participants to risks; and
(ii) employing procedures already
being performed on the participants for prevention, diagnostic, or treatment
purposes, when appropriate.
(B) Risks to human subjects are reasonable
relative to anticipated benefits, if any, to human subjects, and the importance
of the knowledge that may reasonably be expected to result.
(C) Selection of human subjects is equitable.
(D) Human subjects , or their
legally authorized representatives , provide voluntary informed consent for
participating in research, unless otherwise exempted by state or federal law,
per Oklahoma Administrative Code 340:2-39-11.1.
(E) There are adequate provisions for
ensuring human subjects' safety.
(F) There are adequate provisions to protect
human subjects' privacy and maintain data confidentiality.
(G) When necessary, appropriate additional
safeguards are included in research involving subjects who are likely to be
vulnerable to coercion or undue influence, such as children, including those
who are wards of the state or any other agency, prisoners, individuals with
impaired decision-making capacities , or economically or educationally
disadvantaged persons.
(4) DHSIRB encourages and promotes
constructive communication among its administrators, research supervisors,
research investigators, and all other relevant parties as a means of
maintaining a high level of awareness to safeguard the rights and welfare of
research subjects.
(5) DHSIRB
exercises appropriate administrative oversight to ensure its practices and
procedures designed for the protection of the rights and welfare of human
subjects are effectively applied.
(6) DHSIRB serves in a collaborative
relationship with research investigators to ensure that research with human
subjects is conducted in accordance with legal requirements and ethical
principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.
(7) DHSIRB provides each individual
conducting or reviewing human subject research, such as research investigators,
research supervisors, research reviewers, and division directors with a copy of
this Section.
(8) Per
45 C.F.R. §
46.108(a)(3), DHSIRB is
responsible for:
(A) conducting its initial
and continuing review of research and for reporting its findings and actions to
the investigator and to appropriate Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS)
managers, supervisors, and directors;
(B) determining which projects require review
more often than annually and which projects need verification from sources
other than the investigators when no material changes occurred since the
previous DHSIRB review; and
(C)
ensuring prompt reporting by investigators to DHSIRB of proposed changes in a
research activity; and ensuring investigators conduct the research activity in
accordance with DHSIRB terms of approval until any proposed changes are
reviewed and approved by DHSIRB, except when necessary to eliminate apparent
immediate hazards to the subject.
(9) DHSIRB is responsible for ensuring prompt
reporting by investigators to DHSIRB; appropriate DHS officials; the department
or agency head; and the Office for Human Research Protections, the Department
of Health and Human Services (DHHS), or any successor office, or the equivalent
office within the appropriate federal department or agency of any:
(A) unanticipated problems involving risks to
subjects or others or any serious or continuing noncompliance with this policy
or the DHSIRB requirements or determinations; and
(B) DHSIRB suspension or termination of
approval.
(c)
Support for DHSIRB functions and
operations.
(1) In order to ensure
that DHSIRB has the necessary resources to carry out its duties, DHS provides
sufficient:
(A) staff support, which includes
at a minimum, the human protections administrator (HPA). The HPA provides
administrative support to DHSIRB, serves as the Office of Human Research
Protection's primary DHS contact, and has the administrative responsibility for
DHSIRB functions and operations; and
(B) meeting space for the Board to convene.
(2) Additional
necessary resources, such as filing space, reproduction equipment, and
computers for DHSIRB are provided by DHS through the Innovation Services (IS)
division.