trainings and open and collaborative dialogue with OSP staff, other IRB members, and researchers. If the IRB regularly reviews research that involves a vulnerable category of subjects, such as children, prisoners, pregnant women, or persons with disabilities, then consideration will be given to the inclusion of one or more individuals who are knowledgeable about and experienced in working with these populations.
The IRB will also invite individuals with competence in special areas to assist in the review of issues which require expertise beyond or in addition to that available on the IRB. These consultants will not be members of the IRB and may not vote on protocols. As non-voting consultants, these individuals do not affect the determination of a quorum.
Up to two members of OSP staff can serve as alternate members of IRB. Alternate IRB members replace regular IRB members who are unable to attend meetings of the IRB or conduct a protocol review. Alternate members must have qualifications comparable to the applicable regular members, including the completion of required training, and may be an alternate for more than one IRB member as needed. Alternates attending a meeting or conducting protocol review have all the authority of regular IRB members.
IRB members should be prepared to meet once monthly. If there are no protocols requiring review and discussion by the full Board in a given month, the Chair in consultation with OSP staff may postpone the meeting for that month.
A quorum will be constituted by more than half of the number of the regular voting active membership. When a quorum of regular members is not present, an OSP staff member may serve as an alternate member. No IRB action may be taken without a properly constituted quorum. If a quorum is lost during a meeting, then the Board may not take further action or vote until the quorum is restored.
Periodically, IRB members need to take an extended leave of absence from IRB service. In these cases, the IRB member may be placed on inactive status. Inactive status means that the member is still a member of the IRB, but their absence will not affect quorum. They will be noted on meeting minutes as inactive status, rather than merely absent.
Current active regular voting members of the IRB can petition the IRB Chair to be placed on inactive status if they anticipate an upcoming period of time lasting at least four months but no more than 12 months during which they will not be able to attend IRB meetings or complete regular duties of an active voting member. Current active voting members who wish to be placed on inactive status should make this request in writing to the IRB Chair. The request should be made as soon as possible, preferably at least six weeks before the placement on inactive status will begin. The request should include the start and end