Review Policy

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Policy

The ML4H organizing committee recognizes Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) as essential for ethical research oversight and upholds research integrity standards for all submissions.

Submission requirements

Papers involving human participants must include one of the following:

• An IRB approval number
• A statement of exemption from an IRB
• A rationale explaining why IRB review does not apply

Authors must consult their IRB to determine whether review is required. Uncertainty about whether approval is needed is itself an indication that an IRB should make that determination. The conference may reject submissions that lack adequate IRB documentation when approval appears necessary.

Ethical standards

Submissions must demonstrate adherence to ethical principles, including voluntary participation without undue influence and no adverse psychological effects on participants. Claims that IRB approval is unnecessary based solely on the authors’ own risk assessments are not accepted — IRB or equivalent bodies are the appropriate authority to make such determinations.

Timing of approval

IRB approval must occur before research begins. The conference does not accept post-hoc IRB approval as meeting ethical requirements. While international variation in IRB structures is recognized, prior approval is required globally, and researchers are encouraged to engage their local IRBs.

Non-compliance

Authors must comply with this policy without exception. Non-compliance results in rejection, and submissions cannot be appealed on IRB grounds.