Institutional Review Board

ABOUT THE IRB

With the vision to be recognized as a leading research institution in Asia and the world, specializing in dermatological procedures and products in the fields of cosmetics, skin care and treatment, and evidence-based clinical practice including areas in nutrition and other sciences, VSRC, founded by world-renowned dermatologist/dermatopathologist Dr. Vermen M. Verallo-Rowell, has been modernised as a comprehensive skin research centre that provides excellent clinical care as well as creative, pioneering, ethical dermatological research, and educational support for research-oriented physicians and professionals.

With the number of researches that VSRC studies and spearheads, it is but necessary for the institution to have its own Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Board Committee to ascertain the acceptability of proposed research in terms of institutional commitments and regulations, applicable law, and standards of professional conduct and practice. The IRB also counsels in safeguarding the rights and welfare of human subjects.

The specific duties of IRB members:

Nonaffiliated member(s): Nonaffiliated members are expected to provide input regarding their knowledge about the local community and be willing to discuss issues and research from that perspective.

Non-scientific members: Nonscientific members are expected to provide input on areas germane to their knowledge, expertise and experience, professional and otherwise. For example, members who are lawyers should present the legal views of specific areas that may be conferred, such as exculpatory language or other requirements regarding consent. Non-scientific members should inform the IRB if additional expertise in a non-scientific area is required to evaluate if the protocol adequately protects the rights and welfare of subjects.

Scientific members: Scientific members are expected to contribute to the evaluation of a study on its scientific and statistical merits and standards of practice. These members should also be able to advise the IRB if additional expertise in a non-scientific area is required to assess if the protocol adequately protects the rights and welfare of subjects.

The VSRC IRB meets on an on-call basis to sit down and review protocols and other research procedures but frequently receive updates and reports from VSRC that would require feedback from areas of expertise.

Currently, the VSRC IRB is seeking to be registered by the US FDA.

VSRC considers very selective strategic alliances and support professionals in enabling us to provide the best scientific studies that would promote quality, innovativeness and creativity of evidence-based dermatological research.

IRB MEMBERS