Welcome to the IRB Homepage

Brigham Young University’s Institutional Review Board is responsible for the review of all human subjects research conducted at BYU, or conducted elsewhere by University faculty, staff, or students. It also reviews research by investigators from other institutions or agencies who are working in conjunction with BYU in any capacity. The IRB seeks to create a collaborative relationship with the research community to assure that research with human subjects is conducted in accordance with federal regulations and basic ethical principles. These principles require the balancing of risks to subjects against the scientific knowledge to be gained and the potential benefits to the research participants and society. The IRB also focuses on the informed consent process to assure that subject participation in research is voluntary. The committee only considers experimental design if the research is either so poorly designed as to waste the subjects’ time or the research as proposed would expose the subjects to unnecessary risk.

The Office of Research and Creative Activities will make the initial determination of whether a study should be reviewed by exempt, expedited or full board review. The main purpose of the review of research involving human subjects is to safeguard the rights and welfare of people who take part in these studies.

All researchers using human subjects are required to complete an online research tutorial at https://irbtutorial.byu.edu/. This includes not only the principal investigator but also all co-investigators, research technicians, research assistants, or student assistants who have contact with the research subjects. A certificate of completion will be issued at the end of the tutorial. This report must be printed out and submitted with the protocol materials.

Please refer to the menu to the left for announcements, forms, supplemental information and guidance. These links will help you navigate through the IRB application process. Please refer to the IRB Education link ; there are opportunities for you to learn in greater detail about the IRB. We offer workshops for those who have met with their mentors and have developed a research project. In these workshops we walk you through the application process. We also have a Traveling Workshop, where the IRB will come to your class. Our aim is to facilitate ethical research. If you have any questions, please refer to our contact page.