Institutional Review Board
NextStep Social and Public Health Research Society Institutional Review Board (NSPHRS IRB): independent ethical review of research involving human participants.
About the IRB
The NextStep Social and Public Health Research Society Institutional Review Board (NSPHRS IRB) reviews research involving human participants to protect their rights, safety, dignity and welfare. It reviews studies conducted by the Society and its members, and studies by external researchers who request an independent ethical review.
The IRB works independently of the researchers whose studies it reviews. No study that needs ethical approval may begin recruitment or data collection until the IRB has approved it in writing.
Guiding principles
- The Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association
- The principles of respect for persons, beneficence and justice
- The CIOMS International Ethical Guidelines for Health-related Research Involving Humans
- The laws and regulations of Bangladesh that apply to research with people and personal data
Composition
The IRB has seven members, including one Chairperson. Members are chosen so that the board as a whole can judge both the science and the ethics of a study:
- members with research experience in public health, medicine and the social sciences
- at least one member whose main expertise is outside science, such as law or ethics
- at least one member from the community who is not affiliated with the Society
- both women and men
The Chairperson leads the review process and signs decisions. Members serve for a fixed term, keep all applications confidential, and step aside from any study in which they have a personal, professional or financial interest. The names and affiliations of the members will be published on this page.
What needs review
Any research that involves people as participants needs review before it starts, including:
- surveys, interviews, focus group discussions and observation of people
- clinical, community or behavioural interventions
- collection or use of biological samples
- use of health records or other data from which individuals can be identified
How applications are reviewed
| Review type | Used for | Who reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Exemption | Research with no more than minimal risk and no identifiable information, such as anonymous surveys of adults on non-sensitive topics | The Chairperson or a designated member confirms the exemption in writing |
| Expedited review | Research with no more than minimal risk that still involves identifiable information or direct contact with participants | The Chairperson and one or two designated members |
| Full board review | Research with more than minimal risk, and research with vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, displaced people or people in institutions | The full board at a convened meeting |
A full board meeting needs a quorum of at least four of the seven members, including the Chairperson or an acting chair and at least one non-scientific member. The board aims to decide by consensus; when that is not possible, it decides by a majority of the members present. Investigators may be invited to explain their study but do not take part in the decision.
Decisions
- Approved: the study may begin as submitted.
- Approved with modifications: the study may begin once the listed changes are made and confirmed.
- Revise and resubmit: the study needs substantial changes and a new review.
- Not approved: the study cannot proceed, with the reasons given in writing.
Every decision is issued in a signed letter with a reference number. Approval is valid for twelve months; longer studies need continuing review before approval expires.
Responsibilities after approval
- Any change to the protocol, consent forms or data collection tools needs IRB approval before it is used.
- Serious adverse events, unexpected problems and protocol deviations must be reported to the IRB promptly.
- Investigators submit a progress report each year and a final report when the study ends.
How to apply
Send the following documents by email to office@nsphrs.org with the subject line "IRB application":
- a completed application form (available on request from the same address)
- the full research protocol
- participant information sheets and consent forms, in Bangla and English where participants will use Bangla
- questionnaires, interview guides and other data collection tools
- brief CVs of the principal investigator and co-investigators
- funding details and any declaration of conflicts of interest