University Appoints Director for Review Board

An administrative director has been hired to oversee day-to-day operations of the Institutional Review Board, a faculty panel that ensures compliance with federal guidelines governing the treatment of human subjects in research.

Rachel Krebs (Photo by Lee Pellegrini)
Rachel Krebs comes to BC from Children's Hospital in Boston, where she served in a similar administrative capacity.

As administrative director of the new Office for Human Research Participation Protection, Krebs will coordinate meetings of the Institutional Review Board, composed of faculty members from various University departments and at least one member from the outside community.

She will work closely with the panel's chairwoman, Initiative on Aging Director Rachel Pruchno, on developing policies and educational sessions.

"The IRB reviews research to ensure that the research risks and benefits are appropriate, and also reviews consent forms to make sure participants are fully informed of the research procedures, risks and benefits," Krebs said.

Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dean Michael Smyer said: "The appointment is another mark of the continuing maturity of the research infrastructure at the university, and reaffirms our longstanding commitment to the responsible conduct of research at BC."

-Mark Sullivan

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