Research Review Boards & Committees
Clinical Investigative Services
OCIS provides services and resources to conduct clinical research at the Georgia Health Sciences University. Our office is divided into two primary areas of service: GHSU Health System OCIS Research Review and OCIS Study Coordination Services .
The GHSU Health System OCIS Research Review office provides a review and analysis of all studies that utilize GHSU Health, Inc. resources. The office also reviews all Medical College of Georgia studies that require Institutional Review Board approval. The goal of the review is to ensure efficient study start-up and allocation of resources.
The OCIS Study Coordination Services office offers clinical research services that include study personnel, nurse clinicians, and the financial management of study accounts.
Environmental Health & Safety
The mission of the Georgia Health Sciences University Environmental Health and Safety Division (EH&S) is to provide environmental safety services to staff, patients, students and visitors.
The six sections of EH&S -- Administration, Biological Safety, Chemical Safety, Environmental Health & Occupational Safety, Fire Safety, and Radiation Safety -- ensure full compliance with all local, state and federal laws. We strive to continually improve the level and quality of services provided through creativity, teamwork and innovation.
Human Assurance Committee (IRB)
The Human Assurance Committee (HAC) is the primary Institutional Review Board charged with reviewing all research studies involving human subjects. This includes, but is not limited to Humans, Records, Surveys, Tissues or other human derived materials. This applies to all research conducted at MCG, GHSU Health Inc, and Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center or by faculty, staff or students of those institutions. The HAC also reviews off-campus research conducted by faculty, staff or students of those entities and non-GHSU researchers using GHSU facilities.
Human Research Protection
TheOffice of Human Research Protection (OHRP) provides an internal monitoring function and educational forum for the Medical College of Georgia to assure that all clinical studies utilizing human subjects and/or human derived materials comply with federal, state and institutional regulations and policies to protect research subjects, the university and the research team.
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
To comply with federal laws governing the humane care and treatment of laboratory animals, the Georgia Health Sciences University requires that all uses of invertebrate and vertebrate animals for research, education, or for any other purpose be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The IACUC consists of members of the faculty, administration, and community. Any use of animals at GHSU without IACUC approval is a violation of GHSU policy and federal law.
Institutional Biosafety Committee
The purpose of the Georgia Health Sciences University Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is to ensure institutional compliance with laws and regulations governing research with biohazardous materials to include pathogenic microorganisms, infectious materials, recombinant DNA, and select agents; to establish policies, procedures, and practices to ensure that research at GHSU does not present unacceptable risks to the health or safety of faculty, staff, students, visitors, or the general public; and finally, to assist researchers in safely conducting research with biohazardous materials.
Institutional Chemical Committee
In an effort to meet the challenges, the Institutional Chemical Safety Committee works with the Chemical Safety Office to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas in development of safe work practices in laboratories and fostering cooperative efforts between laboratory workers and support services. Their objective is to ensure safety of all employees, students, and visitors at the Georgia Health Sciences University and to achieve full regulatory compliance campus wide.
