Institutional Review Board

The Population Council’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews all proposed and on-going research investigations involving human participants to assure that participants’ rights and welfare are protected.  The IRB follows the highest international and national ethical guidelines. 

The Council’s IRB is comprised of 14 diverse individuals. It includes scientific and nonscientific members, and members not affiliated with the Council. Members’ expertise includes bioethics, biomedical engineering, demography, health care, HIV and AIDS, international relations, law, obstetrics/gynecology, physiology, public policy, and regulatory affairs.  

Under the leadership of the IRB Chairperson, the IRB meets every other month to review, approve, modify, or disapprove research projects.  The IRB evaluates the following factors when determining whether to approve, modify, or disapprove research involving human participants:  if a) risks to participants are minimized; b) risks to participants are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits; c) selection of participants is equitable; d) informed consent will be sought and appropriately documented; e) the data collected will be monitored to ensure the safety of participants; and f) the privacy of participants and confidentiality of data will be maintained. 

The IRB is administered by the Council’s Manager, Global Regulatory Affairs.   

Academic Freedom & Publication Ethics

The Population Council is committed to the fundamental principles of academic freedom and editorial independence that underpin the advancement of scientific knowledge and discoveries. The Council follows the guidelines published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We work to ensure responsible conduct of research; inquiry, open expression, and reasoned opposition; and the publication of findings. The Council publishes two scholarly journals which are members of COPE.