The Mission of the Institutional Research Review Committee (IRRC) is to promote the development of scientific research, to ensure a safe and ethical research environment, and to protect the rights and welfare of the human research subjects involved in research activities conducted under the authority of the Sparrow Health System. 

The IRB reviews applications for research involving human subjects in keeping with ethical principles and the U. S Department of Health and Human Services regulations for the Protection of Human Subjects.  The IRB is a multidisciplinary standing review committee comprised of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and community representatives.  

All research conducted within Sparrow Health System that involves human subjects or human materials must have prior approval by the IRRC. This includes investigations conducted by but not limited to:

• the Sparrow Health System medical/clinical staff and residents
• the faculty, residents and medical students from Michigan State University
• other institutions and/or individuals interested in research.

The type of IRRC review required (exempt, expedited or full board) depends upon the classification of the research proposal and on the levels of risk to the subjects.

Based on the ethical principles set forth in the Nuremberg Code, the Declaration of Helsinki, and the Belmont Report, the federal government requires that each medical facility, institution, or university receiving federal research funds file an Assurance that it has established policies and procedures for protecting human subjects of research.

Sparrow Health System has been issued a Federal Wide Assurance by the Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP), formerly the Office of Protection from Research Risks (OPRR) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Our Assurance incorporates the Federal protection of human research subjects as set forth in 45 regulations adopted in the Common Federal Rule (1991). These Federal regulations on research involving human subjects and the Sparrow Health System’s most recent Assurance provide the basis for this web site.

Under our Assurance, an Institutional Review Board (IRB) was created within Sparrow Health System and is known as the IRRC. The IRRC is charged with reviewing and approving each research project involving human subjects or materials of human origin before it is implemented. The IRRC routinely updates the Medical Staff Executive Committee regarding the status of research projects involving human subjects being conducted at Sparrow.   Investigators and participants are encouraged to contact the IRB staff  with any questions, concerns or suggestions.  Investigators do not need to schedule an app[ointment to speak with an IRB member regarding any questions they may have.

The IRB office hours are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.  The office is closed for all hospital holidays.

Contact the IRB Administrator at 517.364.2157.