Frequently Asked Questions
Which Form do I use?
Unless you are applying for approval of student projects in a Research Methods Course, the form you use depends on whether your research meets the criteria for "Full Board," "Expedited" or "Exempt Review." Deciding the level of review needed for the research will help you choose the right application form. Decide the level of review by assessing the level of potential risk to subjects involved. The final determination of level of review will be made by the IRB upon receipt of the application form. See The Review Process for a complete description of these terms.
Form IRB-1 for Expedited Review or Full Board Review.
The IRB-1 is the Protocol Application for the Involvement of Human Subjects in Research. This form is used for both levels of review because both levels require the same extensive review; expedited review is done by one IRB member, the other review by the Full Board.
Form IRB-5, Request for Exemption from Continuing IRB Review
Exempt review requires a determination by the IRB that the data will be recorded anonymously and will meet the criteria set out in the federal regulations.
Form IRB-7, Protocol Application for the Involvement of Human Participants in a Research Methods Course (RMC). The Course Instructor of a RMC must submit an application for IRB approval of the type of projects conducted by students in the class. The IRB-7 Protocol will receive Expedited Review.
When does the Full IRB meet and when are the deadlines for the meetings?
See Deadlines/Meeting Dates.
How long do the reviews take? When will I get Approval?
Getting IRB Approval depends on several factors including the whether you have completed the CITI Program Training and the time it takes for you to submit missing information or to provide additional information to the full board or to the reviewer. Other factors include the number of applications awaiting review when you file your application. The ORC/IRB processes and reviews applications in the order in which they are submitted. Applications are stamped when they are received. The IRB reviewers try to accommodate emergency situations but fairness requires that the first protocols submitted are the first reviewed. Given these and other variables, the following answers apply:
Exempt reviews generally take one or two weeks.
Expedited reviews generally take three or four weeks depending on the time of year; most people submit applications at the beginning of the semester.
Full Board reviews are dictated by the Meeting dates and whether a protocol has to go back to the full board for additional review. If the protocol does not have to return to the
Full board, and the investigator provides the requested information, the protocol will generally be turned around in one week after the information is received from the PI.
What is the CITI Program Training?
See Training.
What Consent Form do I use?
See The Consent Process.
