The University of Liberia (UL) Institutional Review Board (IRB) was established in 2005 through a collaborative agreement between the Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation (PIRE) based in the United States and the University of Liberia for the purpose of conducting research in a post-conflict setting.

The UL-IRB has a membership of seven (7) professionals of diverse backgrounds and experiences in their respective areas of expertise. With a quorum of two-third majority in rendering decisions, it had been able to resolve ethical issues regarding the protection of human subjects in research, with limited resources, in Liberia, a resource-constrained, post-conflict country. It has a “Policy and Procedure” Handbook as its guiding principles for the conduct of research in Liberia.

The UL-IRB receives and approves protocols from national and international investigators, including research institutions, intending to conduct human subject-related research in Liberia. Protocols which involve Social Behavior, Educational, Clinical and Biomedical research-related methods are accepted for review.

Download the IRB Policy Handbook

 

 

1. Cecelia Morris, MSN -  Chairperson
2. Jemee K. Tegli, BA - Coordinator
3. Ellen B. George - Williams, MSN
4. James N. Kollie, Sr, PhD
5. Mr. Edward G. Smith
6. Mr. Robert Draper

 

The IRB Policy Handbook is available to persons or institutions interested in research work regarding the protection of human subjects in medicine or the social sciences in Liberia. It exposes people to new ideas in a wide range of scientific fields, and the decisions and opinions they bring to bear in the area of research. It has implications for individuals and institutions who conduct research activities as well as those who participate in them in Liberia.

The mission of UL-PIRE IRB is to help researchers conduct important studies in a way that protects the rights and welfare of research participants. People who do not understand how the IRB should function may think that making IRB determinations requires little more than common sense and good intentions. This is often not the case. As you learn more about research ethics and research regulations, you will understand that many research projects present ethical issues that are not simple to recognize or resolve.

This handbook provides information on a structured approach to evaluating the ethics of research protocols and a clear understanding of the fundamental principles that should be used to determine or accept research proposals.