The Hartford HealthCare (HHC) Institutional Review Board (IRB) is supported by the Human Research Protections Program (HRPP). The HHC IRB has oversight over all research conducted at HHC, including research conducted at Hartford Hospital; MidState Medical Center, Windham Hospital, The Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC), and Backus Hospital. The IRB conducts the ethical review on potential research studies involving human subjects.
Research is a systematic investigation, including research investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.
Human Subject means a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research obtains (1) data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) identifiable private information.
The HRPP makes the initial determination whether a potential activity is research involving human subjects. If the activity is not research, or does not involve human subjects, the researcher will receive a letter stating this determination.
If the activity is research and involves human subjects, the IRB will make the determination whether the activity qualifies for:
- An IRB review exemption
- An IRB expedited review
- IRB full board review
Important: The IRB review must happen before the research activity starts because the review’s purpose is to assess the study’s potential benefits and risks. Please be sure that you have your IRB approval or exemption letter before you start your study.
If you have any questions about whether IRB review is required, please contact us at: 860.972.2893 or irb@hhchealth.org.
Please click here if you are looking for more information about being a study volunteer.
All submissions to the HHC IRB are done using the Hartford HealthCare (HHC) Integrated Research Information System (iRIS).