All research is regulated by federal, state and local agencies. Approval is required for research involving human participants or animal subjects before research activities begin.

Human participant research

Federal regulations require that all research involving human participants must be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) before research activities can begin. The WSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) is the primary IRB of record for Wayne State University and its affiliated health care institutions (Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Receiving Hospital/University Health Center, Sinai-Grace Hospital, Harper Hospital, Huron Valley/Sinai Hospital, Hutzel Hospital, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Oakwood Healthcare System, Michigan Orthopedic Surgery Hospital, and the John D. Dingell Veterans Administration Medical Center). The IRB has the responsibility to review all research that involves human participants and that is performed by faculty, students, or employees of WSU and its affiliated institutions. The authority of the IRB extends to biomedical research and behavioral/social science research, regardless of whether the research is being funded by a federal agency, by commercial companies, by intramural entities or supported by institutional resources. In addition, it includes research conducted on Wayne State University property or its affiliated medical institutions' property. Designation of research as exempt from IRB review requires approval of the IRB chair or their designee.

The WSU IRB Administration Office

The IRB Administration Office staff is ready to assist you. They offer weekly ongoing training, online training, and are available to answer your questions. The IRB website contains forms, resources and tools, including a comprehensive handbook to help researchers and their staff with the IRB application process. The WSU IRB Administration Office has a listserv for all researchers and research staff using the WSU IRB. This listserv facilitates communication between WSU researchers and the IRB. To subscribe, send a blank email to irb-info-subscribe-request@lists.wayne.edu and then confirm when you receive a reply. To unsubscribe at any time, send an email to irb-info-signoff-request@lists.wayne.edu. The IRB Administrative Office is located at 87 E. Canfield, second floor, Detroit, MI 48201. Phone: 313-577-1628

Animal subject research

Federal regulations require that all research involving animals must be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before research activities begin. Wayne State University has it's own IACUC that reviews protocols for Wayne State University and its affiliated medical institutions (Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Receiving Hospital/University Health Center, Sinai-Grace Hospital, Harper Hospital, Huron Valley/Sinai Hospital, Hutzel Hospital, Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, and the John D. Dingell Veterans Administration Medical Center). In cooperation with research scientists and veterinarians, the IACUC ensures that all research and teaching protocols using live vertebrate animals are designed and carried out in a humane manner that complies with all applicable laws, policies and guidelines. The Division of Laboratory Animal Resources (DLAR) provides informational, species-specific and procedure-specific training sessions for researchers at various times throughout the year.

The WSU IACUC Administration Office

Detailed information about training and how to submit forms is located on the IACUC website. The IACUC Administration Office is located at 87 E. Canfield, second floor, Detroit, MI 48201 (between John R. and Woodward). Phone: 313-577-1629.

Henry Ford Health System (HFHS)

Please note that Henry Ford Health System has its own IRB and IACUC. Wayne State University faculty and students wishing to do research in those facilities must either submit an Administrative Application to WSU IRB or IACUC after gaining approval from HFHS (if all of the research is being performed there) or submit research proposals to both WSU and HFHS (if the research is being performed in both locations). Questions regarding the type of submission required by WSU can be directed to the IRB or IACUC Office.