Welcome to the Psychiatric Institute IRB, the Institutional Review Board of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the Department of Psychiatry of Columbia University. 

What is an IRB?

Institutional review boards at academic research centers, hospitals, and universities across the U.S. are part of a federal oversight system created some thirty years ago to safeguard the rights and well-being of people who volunteer to take part in research.  Within this system of “research protections,” institution-based ethics review boards (i.e. IRB’s) provide prior review and approval of research with “human subjects.”  The IRB promotes an institution’s application of the core ethical principles related to research and supports compliance with federal, state, and local research regulations.   

About NYSPI

The New York State Psychiatric Institute is the oldest and among the most highly regarded psychiatric research centers in the United States. The Institute’s success and its reputation derive not only from leadership in clinical science, but from the commitment of its researchers and research staff to excellence in the practice of research and patient care.  Individuals who seek treatment through research at NYSPI or who volunteer in other research studies can be confident of this.

To Learn More

You can learn more about our IRB and our authority and responsibilities on the About Us page.  If you are thinking of taking part in research, see the link under Research Participants at the left. Researchers and research staff can log-in to our secure server to access information on policies, procedures and guidance related to research proposal design, submission and review.

David H. Strauss, M.D.,

Vice-Chair for Research Administration, Ethics and Policy

Deputy Director for Research