Announcement
QOVES' Facial Perception Research Program has received an exempt determination following independent review by Advarra's Institutional Review Board (IRB). Advarra determined that the submitted project qualifies for exemption under federal research regulations (45 CFR 46.104(d)(2)), meaning that it can proceed as submitted without ongoing IRB review.
Independent ethical review is not universal for minimal-risk industry research, but QOVES voluntarily pursued it because our participants deserve careful protections, including informed consent, confidentiality, and transparent research procedures. More than 3,500 institutions, hospitals, health systems, and academic medical centers use Advarra's IRB services, and we are proud to join the organizations that have entrusted Advarra with independent research review. Since 2019, QOVES has translated research on human facial perception to a wide audience; this determination is an important step toward conducting our own rigorous research responsibly and sharing what we learn with the wider scientific community.