The role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is vital in human research, and its impact is not limited to research only; it also has long-term benefits in evidence-based society development. Public Health Foundation, Bangladesh (PHF, BD), a nonprofit, nonpolitical, and voluntary organization, works in several areas in public health. The establishment and operation of the IRB is one of its signatory works. Very recently, the IRB received accreditation from the Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) (OHRP: IRB00013482). It also obtained Federal Wide Assurances (FWA) from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Enhancing scientific rigor and ethical integrity in society was the aim of this IRB, and the IRB complies with the local ethical standards prescribed by the government of the WHO and other relevant international bodies, e.g. World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and others. The IRB has a full panel of experts comprising public health specialists, specialist clinicians, subject experts, religious representatives and relevant persons. A number of learned reviewers were also enlisted to support this platform.

Accreditation

In case of any queries, please contact with us.

If you are interested to submit your protocol related to human research, please submit your protocol to the following address:

To: irb@publichealthfoundation.org.bd

CC: sharmeenphfbd@gmail.com; dr.jahid61@gmail.com

Submission requirements:

Four documents need to be submitted along with the protocol

  1. Full protocol (One can follow standard format of the protocol e.g. BMRC protocol etc.)
  2. Consent form in Bengali and in English
  3. Questionnaire
  4. PHF ethical review declaration form (the form can be found on this webpage)

In addition, one can add relevant supporting documents. On the other hand, PHFs reserve the right to demand necessary documentation based on the merits of the protocol.

 

IRB submission fee:

As the Public Health Foundation, Bangladesh is a nonprofit voluntary organization, it claims a minimal charge to operate the organizational activities. The charge depends upon the funding status, financial condition of the researcher and scientific merit of the protocol. Therefore, before submission you are requested to talk with our secretariate member either by email (info@phfbd.net) or over phone about payment details. Cell: +8801757818973.

 

Processing time:

We evaluated all of the submitted protocols on a periodic basis and in a regular fashion. If you required urgent protocol review, please discuss the issue with our secretariate member (info@phfbd.net). In no cases did the PHF,BD give assurance about the urgent protocol review services.