Information for Panel Members
IRB panel members play an important role in protecting the rights, safety, and welfare of individuals participating in research. Members bring varied expertise, experience, and perspectives to IRB deliberations, contributing to the ethical review of human research.
The IRB Office provides our panel members with resources, guidance, training, and educational opportunities to support them in their roles. This page provides information and resources for Northwestern University IRB panel members.
IRB Panel Members SharePoint Site
The IRB Panel Member SharePoint Site is the central resource hub for current Northwestern University IRB panel members. It provides access to onboarding materials, review tools, policies and guidance, meeting resources, training materials, and educational opportunities.
Access is restricted to current Northwestern IRB panel members. The site is not publicly accessible. Current panel members can access the site using their Northwestern University NetID in the following format NETID@ads.northwestern.edu and NetID password.
Access the IRB Panel Member SharePoint Site
Reach out to IRB Education at irbtraining@northwestern.edu with questions.
Review Resources
The following publicly available resources may be helpful to IRB panel members.
- Tips for Preparing a Review: Practical considerations for preparing a review in eIRB+
- eIRB+: Information about Northwestern University's electronic IRB submission system
- Checklists & Worksheets
- Protocol Templates & Forms
- Consent Templates & HIPAA Requirements
- SOPs
Additional reviewer guidance, review expectations, and resources are available to current panel members on the IRB Panel Member SharePoint Site.
Regulations and Guidance
The following resources provide access to federal regulations and institutional guidance relevant to human research.
- Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP): Federal regulations, guidance, and resources related to the protection of human subjects in research.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Regulations and guidance applicable to FDA-regulated research.
- Northwestern University Human Research Policies and Guidance Institutional policies and guidance relevant to IRB review.
Education
The IRB Office offers educational opportunities to support IRB panel members' ongoing learning and professional development.
- IRB Brown Bag: Monthly educational sessions on timely human research protections topics, with opportunities for discussion and shared learning. Registration for upcoming sessions is available on our Events page.
- News & Announcements: Stay current on news, announcements, educational content, updated tools and resources, staff highlights, and other relevant updates from the IRB Office.
- Annual IRB Member Retreat: An annual educational event offering opportunities for panel members to engage with relevant topics and connect with colleagues.
- Recorded Trainings and Educational Resources: Additional materials to support continued learning and professional development are available on the Panel Member SharePoint site.
Additional Educational Opportunities
Panel members may also find educational opportunities from organizations focused on human research protections, research ethics, and regulatory compliance: