Mission and Purpose

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Institutional Review Boards (IRB) #1 are administrative bodies established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects recruited to participate in research activities conducted under the auspices of the DSHS and personal health information requests submitted to DSHS programs needing approval by an independent board.  This includes human subject research contracted to public or private entities.  The IRB has the authority to approve, require modifications in, or disapprove all research activities that fall within its jurisdiction as specified in the federal regulations, state regulations and statutes, and institutional policy.  Research that has been reviewed and approved by the IRB may be subject to review and disapproval by officials of the DSHS.  However, those officials may not approve research if it has been disapproved by the IRB.

Federalwide Assurance  [Expires 8/15/2016]

IRB Registration  [Expires 12/13/2014]

The DSHS Institutional Review Board Policy

DSHS IRB #1 and #2 Scope and Responsibilities

There are two IRBs at DSHS, each with the responsibility to protect human subjects in DSHS research or using their DSHS data.

• IRB #1 reviews DSHS-affiliated* social, behavioral, educational, and health science research.
• IRB #2 reviews DSHS-affiliated* mental health, mental retardation, and substance abuse research. The DSHS IRB #2 website

The IRB #1 office is moving to a new location.  For our internal customers, the new location is in the Tower Building on the 4th floor, in the Medical and Research Library (Room T404.30).  For all our customers, the new mail code is 1955.

*DSHS-Affiliated Activities:  A DSHS-affiliated activity is one that is sponsored or co-sponsored by DSHS; is conducted by or under the direction of any employee or agent of DSHS in connection with institutional responsibilities, using any DSHS property or facility; or involves the use of DSHS program data.