Public Health Institutional Review Board (PH IRB)
Protecting the rights of persons participating in research
The Public Health Institutional Review Board serves as the IRB for both the Oregon Public Health Division (PHD) and the Multnomah County Health Department (MCHD). It is an established administrative body composed of PHD staff, MCHD staff, and select external volunteers with expertise in epidemiologic research, public health interventions, and social and behavioral science. It is the Boards' duty to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects recruited to participate in research activities and the confidentiality of their data.
Both of these agencies have a Federalwide Assurance (FWA) filed with the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP), formalizing their commitment to protect human subjects when engaged in research. These FWA's cover all federally supported or conducted research involving human subjects, however, both the PHD and MCHD have elected to apply 45 CFR 46 and all its subparts regardless of the source of support. As legally separate entities, the PHD and MCHD must have their own FWA's, however, both designate the PH IRB as the Institutional Review Board responsible for their reviews.
- PH IRB HHS IRB Registration Number:
IRB00001099
- Oregon Health Authority - Public Health Division Federalwide Assurance:
#00000520
- Multnomah County Health Department Federalwide Assurance:
#00004186
What does the PH IRB review?
In accordance with 45 CFR §46.109 and 45 CFR §46.113, the PH IRB has the responsibility to review, approve, disapprove or require changes in research projects involving human subjects and the authority to suspend or terminate the approval at a later time in order to protect the subjects’ rights. PH IRB review is required for all research with human subjects if any one or more of the following applies:
- The research is sponsored by the PHD or MCHD;
- The research is conducted by or under the direction of an employee or agent of PHD or MCHD in connection with his/her agency responsibilities, or using any property or facility of PHD or MCHD;
- The research involves the use of PHD or MCHD’s data;
- The research involves the use of PHD or MCHD’s non-public information to identify or contact human research subjects or prospective subjects;
- Funding for the research will be handled through PHD or MCHD, but the research will be done at another location.
For more information on the PH IRB's authority and scope of expertise, please see the 
Public Health Institutional Review Board Policy & Procedures Manual