Virginia Law

A. Each committee shall have at least five members, appointed by the head of the institution, with varying backgrounds to provide complete and adequate review of activities commonly conducted by the institution. The committee shall be sufficiently qualified through the maturity, experience, and diversity of its members, including consideration of race, gender and cultural background, to promote respect for its advice and counsel in safeguarding the rights and welfare of subjects in human research. In addition to possessing the professional competence necessary to review specific activities, the committee shall be able to ascertain the acceptability of applications and proposals in terms of institutional commitments and regulations, applicable law, standards of professional conduct and practice, and community attitudes. If a committee regularly reviews research that has an impact on patients or residents within an institution as defined herein or other vulnerable category of subjects, such as children, prisoners, pregnant women, or handicapped or mentally disabled persons, consideration shall be given to the inclusion of one or more individuals who are knowledgeable about and experienced in working with these subjects.

B. No committee shall consist entirely of members of one profession, and at least one member shall be an individual whose primary concerns are in nonscientific areas (e.g., lawyers, ethicists, members of the clergy).

C. Each committee shall include at least one member who is not otherwise affiliated with the institution and who is not part of the immediate family of a person who is affiliated with the institution.

D. No member of a committee shall participate in the committee's initial or continuing review of any project in which the member has a conflicting interest, except to provide information requested by the committee. The committee has responsibility for determining whether a member has a conflicting interest. The committee size shall be maintained at no fewer than five persons by appointment of a substitute representative for each member with a conflicting interest.

E. A committee may, at its discretion, invite individuals with competence in special areas to assist in the review of complex issues which require expertise beyond or in addition to that available on the committee. These individuals shall not vote with the committee.

F. A quorum of the committee shall consist of a majority of its members including at least one member whose primary concerns are in nonscientific areas.

G. The committee and the institution shall establish procedures and rules of operation necessary to fulfill the requirements of this chapter.