RD241 - Annual Report on Human Research - State Fiscal Year 2008


Executive Summary:
In SFY 08, the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) human research committee, referred to as the IRB, reviewed three proposed research studies. One study qualified for exemption review, and two qualified for expedited review. In addition, there were two annual continuation reviews of previously approved studies.

Research involving DSS clients generally involves no risk of physical harm because it is not clinical research but observational studies of human behavior. The potential risk for DSS studies most often involves issues of client privacy and, to a lesser extent, psychological harm (for example, from surveys that include sensitive questions). The IRB has a responsibility to protect client privacy and, more generally, to minimize the risks of research activities to DSS clients.