Human Subjects in Research

Human Subjects in Research

Human subjects research (HSR) is any systematic investigation using data from living individuals to develop generalizable knowledge, involving either direct interaction/intervention (like interviews, experiments) or the use/analysis of their identifiable data or biospecimens (like tissue, medical records). It covers a wide range, from clinical trials to social science surveys, and requires ethical oversight by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) to protect participants’ rights and welfare, ensuring informed consent and minimizing risks.

All research activities (including data analysis and publication of results) that involve human subjects, including activities that are eligible for exemption under federal guidelines and are conducted on QC campuses, sponsored by QC in whole or in part (i.e., under the direction of QC personnel or funded through the college), or use QC-affiliated subjects or information related to QC-affiliated subjects, must be reviewed and approved by the QC Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects before such an activity begins. If the investigator is conducting research cooperatively with another institution, Queens College also requires the investigator to obtain proper approval from that institution.

Applications are available from the Office of Regulatory Compliance. Please contact that office for more information regarding Institutional Review Board policies and procedures.