MAHEC’s Human Research Protections Program seeks nominations for volunteers to join inaugural Institutional Review Board
Jul 25, 2023 08:55AM ● By WNC Business
ASHEVILLE — MAHEC (Mountain Area Health Education Center) is seeking nominations for volunteers to join its Institutional Review Board as part of the non-profit academic medical center’s newly launched Human Research Protections Program.
An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee comprised of scientists, medical doctors, philosophers, and community members who may represent people that would participate as subjects in research studies. The IRB requires researchers to conduct their studies ethically, protect the rights and welfare of human subjects, and adhere to federal regulations and state and local laws.
Volunteers for MAHEC’s first Institutional Review Board will serve a three-year term, meeting monthly for two hours (virtually if necessary) to evaluate social and behavioral research, review applications and protocols, participate in meetings, and contribute to discussions and subcommittees. The expected time commitment is up to eight hours per month.
Diversity in age, gender, race, profession, and affiliation is desired. Find details here about the federally regulated membership requirements. Submit nominations here by August 4.
Established nearly five decades ago, MAHEC – Mountain Area Health Education Center – is a leader in healthcare, education, and innovation. Headquartered in Asheville with satellite offices in various locations across its 16-county Western North Carolina service area, MAHEC is the largest of nine Area Health Education Centers in North Carolina. With more than 1,000 employees, MAHEC’s mission is to recruit, train and retain the workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina, with a focus on primary care in rural communities and those with less access to resources.
MAHEC’s 14-acre Biltmore campus is also home to UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC, an academic health center in partnership with UNC-Chapel Hill that includes programs from the UNC School of Medicine, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and UNC Adams School of Dentistry. A private, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, MAHEC will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024. For more information, visit mahec.net and follow MAHEC on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.