The VDSS human research committee, known as the Institutional Review Board (IRB), ensures human subjects research will be conducted in compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations. In SFY 2025, there was turnover in the membership of the IRB for SFY 2025-2026, including the appointments of four new members. The IRB conducted 14 reviews and determinations for new and ongoing research studies. This included four studies that were determined exempt from IRB oversight.

In SFY 2025, the VDSS IRB initiated a discussion to clarify guidance about informed consent requirements. The discussion will continue into SFY 2026. The IRB Administrators streamlined its training requirements for new IRB members and added two new online courses from options available in CITI. Proposed changes to state code 22 VAC 40-890, regarding human subject research regulations, were approved by the Governor’s Office and went into effect in February 2025.