21 CFR §56.115
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)An institution, or where appropriate an IRB, shall prepare and maintain adequate documentation of IRB activities, including the following:
- (1)Copies of all research proposals reviewed, scientific evaluations, if any, that accompany the proposals, approved sample consent documents, progress reports submitted by investigators, and reports of injuries to subjects.
- (2)Minutes of IRB meetings which shall be in sufficient detail to show attendance at the meetings; actions taken by the IRB; the vote on these actions including the number of members voting for, against, and abstaining; the basis for requiring changes in or disapproving research; and a written summary of the discussion of controverted issues and their resolution.
- (3)Records of continuing review activities.
- (4)Copies of all correspondence between the IRB and the investigators.
- (5)A list of IRB members identified by name; earned degrees; representative capacity; indications of experience such as board certifications, licenses, etc., sufficient to describe each member's chief anticipated contributions to IRB deliberations; and any employment or other relationship between each member and the institution; for example: full-time employee, part-time employee, a member of governing panel or board, stockholder, paid or unpaid consultant.
- (6)Written procedures for the IRB as required by § 56.108 (a) and (b).
- (7)Statements of significant new findings provided to subjects, as required by § 50.25.
- (b)The records required by this regulation shall be retained for at least 3 years after completion of the research, and the records shall be accessible for inspection and copying by authorized representatives of the Food and Drug Administration at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner.
- (c)The Food and Drug Administration may refuse to consider a clinical investigation in support of an application for a research or marketing permit if the institution or the IRB that reviewed the investigation refuses to allow an inspection under this section.