All research not qualifying for Exempt status or Expedited review and research involving protected classes of subjects requires Full (Level III) review. In general research requiring Full review places the subject at greater than minimal risk. Full review means that the research protocol is read, discussed and voted upon by the full IRB committee.
Special considerations apply to protecting the welfare of particularly vulnerable populations such as fetuses, children, prisoners, mentally disabled or cognitively impaired persons, terminally ill patients, the elderly, students and employees, survey research that involves AIDS information either with the general public or with vulnerable populations, or economically or educationally disadvantaged persons. Research involving a protected class is required to undergo Full review.