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Institutional Review Board Approval (IRB)

IRB Step by Step

All research investigators at USF are responsible for submitting human subject research for review by the USF IRB (and additional IRBs if required) prior to starting a research study. If it is not clear what type of human subjects (exempt, expedited, full board), approval is required; students should consult the USF Office of Research Integrity & Compliance in collaboration with their advisor. Only the IRB can determine if the research being conducted falls under the exempt category. Research investigators must prepare a protocol giving a complete description of the proposed research, a detailed application and, when appropriate, a sample of the proposed informed consent form. All protocols and related forms must be submitted electronically to the IRB via eIRB, which can be accessed online at http://www.research.usf.edu/dric/education-program/.

As a part of the application process, the investigator’s IRB application will be electronically routed to his/her Department Chair or designee, or Department Chair of their Advisor, who certifies that adequate scientific review of the research study has been performed. All students who serve as a Principal Investigator are required to have a faculty advisor listed on their IRB application.  The major professor must review the initial application and any subsequent modifications.  All doctoral students must complete the IRB credentialing process and HIPAA training during their first semester following admission. IRB training courses are available online at http://www.research.usf.edu/dric/education-program/.

The letter from the IRB indicating approval or designation of non research should be submitted as an appendix in their final document for the Doctoral Project and uploaded into box.

***IRB approval from another institution does NOT fulfill this requirement.  As a USF student, you must have a designation regarding human subjects research from the USF IRB.