About the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (CPHS)

The CPHS functions as the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for San Francisco State University. The IRB is charged with reviewing all research involving human subjects to ensure that their rights are protected according to the federal regulations stated in 45 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 46 and CFR Parts 50 and 56 (FDAS policy).

The Committee at SFSU is composed of individuals from a number of academic units on campus, along with community members who are not affiliated with the university. Committee members are recommended by the Associate Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs and the Dean of Graduate Studies and are appointed by the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate.

The Committee members are divided into two IRBs. During the fall and spring semesters, IRB #1 meets on the first Wednesday of the month, and IRB #2 meets on the third Wednesday. The Committee meets once or twice during the winter and summer sessions as needed, and as the members' schedules permit.

Both IRBs are constituted so that each board has the expertise to review most protocols. Protocols with a biomedical component are referred to IRB#1 which currently includes a physician, a nurse, and a physiological psychologist. Protocols involving special education research are referred to IRB#2, which includes a member with special education expertise.

Most protocols reviewed by the committee are from the social and behavioral sciences and education. Both committees include qualitative and quantitative researchers, as well as community members and non-scientists.

The IRBs are shuffled regularly to ensure the proper mix of disciplines and expertise to be in compliance with federal regulations. The lists below reflect the IRB membership as of August, 2008.