Kelli Bursey, MPH, CHES, chair of the Oak Ridge Sitewide Institutional Review Board
Kelli Bursey, MPH, CHES, has been named chair of the Oak Ridge Sitewide Institutional Review Board (ORSIRB), for which she oversees IRB reviews and makes determinations of human subject research protocols.
“I’m excited and honored to be taking over this position,” Bursey said. “I got involved with the ORSIRB 12 years ago because I wanted to become more knowledgeable for my coworkers and clients when we submit research, but I never imagined it would evolve to me becoming chair. I’m excited to bring awareness to our human subject protection program, which has been pretty siloed up to this point, and highlight our website as well as the recent achievement of accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs.”
Bursey is an ORAU health education specialist and project manager, a position she has held since 2008. She has also served as a member of the ORSIRB for 12 years. Bursey’s areas of expertise include qualitative and quantitative research, formative research, and research and evaluation. She has worked with a wide range of audiences, government agencies and organizations in her capacity as a research and health communications expert. Bursey earned a master’s degree in public health from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2008. She has a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the Ohio State University.
The ORSIRB is a federally mandated entity that oversees the protection of human subjects in research. The review board reviews and oversees research conducted at participating sites to assure that it meets ethical principles and complies with federal regulations. Facilities such as ORAU, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Y-12 National Security Complex and other Department of Energy facilities fall under the purview of the ORSIRB.