The Institutional Review Board: a committee that protects participants in research and provides support for scientists

In 2009, with the aim of providing a framework and guidance for conducting research abroad, the Institut Pasteur set up an Institutional Review Board (IRB) for research ethics, accredited by the US Ministry of Health. Since it was created, the IRB has evaluated around 50 projects and provided protection for more than 90,000 participants in research (mostly vulnerable individuals – pregnant women, children, impoverished populations, etc.). It is on hand to offer guidance for any research projects carried out abroad involving human subjects, human biological samples and/or personal data, for which the Institut Pasteur is the legal representative (sponsor) and which are not submitted to an Ethical Research Committee. As well as its expert role in assessing research protocols, the IRB places considerable importance on dialog and providing support for scientists on ethical issues.

Role and duties of the IRB

Gilles Raguin, a physician specializing in infectious diseases, took over from Virginie Pirard as Chair of the IRB for a two-year term. He explains that the idea of providing a framework for research is a relatively recent one in the history of science and, citing the recent example of the birth of babies with modified genomes in China, emphasizes the need for all research institutes to have independent ethics committees to provide a framework for research and protect participants.

To find out more about Dr. Gilles Raguin, read his interview at pasteur.fr.

Alongside its important role in supporting and guiding scientists dealing with ethical issues, the IRB's primary task is actually to protect participants in research. Its work also provides a visible guarantee of the ethical approach adopted by the Institut Pasteur, thereby safeguarding its image and reputation.

The main duty of the IRB is to make sure that the research projects submitted to it have employed the precautions and ethical guarantees needed to secure the safety and well-being of participants and to make sure that their fundamental rights are respected.

To this end, the IRB:

- evaluates research protocols before they are implemented,

- approves (authorizes) the implementation of these protocols – although it may withhold its approval or request changes to a given protocol if there are shortcomings with regard to the protection of human participants,

- delivers binding opinions (which scientists must comply with), independently and on its own initiative.

The IRB is composed of 9 to 15 members, divided into an internal panel (members from the Institut Pasteur) and an external panel (members from outside the Institut Pasteur) from a wide range of fields and horizons. The IRB is composed of anthropologists, doctors, legal experts, ethics experts, philosophers and scientists. The board's multidisciplinary nature means that it is in a position to deliver rounded, comprehensive opinions, generally adopted by consensus and occasionally by vote.

When should you contact the IRB about a project?

You may approach the IRB (independently of any referral to an Ethical Research Committee) if you would like an institutional ethical opinion, with the aim of:

- improving the ethical quality of your research project,

- providing a funding body or publisher with a guarantee of the ethical quality of your research protocol,

- securing an ethical opinion in the absence of another competent ethics committee.

You must approach the IRB:

- if one of the US federal research funding bodies (e.g. the NIH) is funding your research project,

- if the Institut Pasteur is the legal representative for your research project carried out abroad.

Your contacts:

• Fanny Momboisse – IRB Analyst, fanny.momboisse@pasteur.fr

• Virginie Pirard – IRB Head of Administration and Head of the Ethics Unit, virginie.pirard@pasteur.fr

• To contact the Institutional Review Board: irb@pasteur.fr

Further information:

Find out more about the Institutional Review Board (in French)

Download the IRB presentation brochure (in French)