Three committees form the Research Compliance offices: The Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC0). These committees ensure the protection of human subjects; the welfare of animals; safe use of select agents, pathogens and toxins; and serve to enhance the ethical conduct in research programs at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA).
COVID-19 Guidance for Human Subject Research
As concerns about COVID-19 ("Coronavirus Disease 2019") continue to spread, the Stephen F. Austin State University Institutional Review Board (IRB) is reminding researchers that the protection of human participants is paramount. The amount of additional risk to participants differs across research projects and all IRB protocols will continue to be reviewed on an individual basis. It is also the expectation that all researchers follow current federal and state guidelines. Refer to the following links for the most current information and protocols: CDC guidelines, Texas Department of State Health Services.Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Stephen F. Austin State University seeks to protect the welfare of every person who may be a subject of research activities. In doing so, the university complies with appropriate federal, state, and local laws, including regulations by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research (45 CFR Part 46, as amended). Documentation of procedures is required for all protocols that are government funded. SFA follows the ethical principles regarding all research involving humans as subjects as 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 (the "Belmont Report"), and in theCode of Federal Regulations (CFR).
The SFASU IRB will meet the first week of every month. Please allow seven business days for applications that require a full review .
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
SFA follows the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Animal Welfare Act (Eighth Edition), which is enforced by USDA, to protect certain animals from inhumane treatment and neglect. The regulations are followed with respect to the animals utilized by SFA which include: agricultural animals, horses, fish, amphibians, and wildlife (birds, mammals, etc.). The IACUC committee recognizes that many of the animal care practices at SFA constitute routine animal care. The committee, therefore, acknowledges acceptable animal management and care practices and, upon approval of the IACUC chair, exempts them from further committee review.
The SFASU IACUC will meet on an as needed basis.
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
Biosafety in teaching and research is a collaborative effort involving the SFA Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Principal Investigators, laboratory personnel, and EHSRM Safety Officers. It is the role of the IBC to review, approve/reject, and provide oversight and guidance to individuals at the university, or that use property owned by the university, who seek to use or possess rDNA and/or biohazardous materials for teaching or research.
The SFASU IBC will meet quarterly or as needed.