What is the IRB?

Can I make changes to my approved protocol?

Is there a deadline for my application?

Does my application require a full-board review?

How do I apply for a waiver of consent?

Can I submit my application electronically?

Why do I do part D when I answered parts A & B?

How long will the review process take?

Do I need to do the IRB tutorial again?

Can I submit before approval from my thesis committee?

Can I submit the IRB after I've left for an internship?

Other Questions

The IRB (Institutional Review Board for human subjects) was designed for the protection of human subjects. The IRB requires compliance with basic ethical principles of research provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. BYU has a federally regulated IRB committee that reviews proposals submitted for research with human subjects.

If you would like to make changes to protocol that has already been approved, you will need to fill out an amendment request form document and submit it along with the requested documents.

The deadline for proposals that need to be reviewed by the full committee (Full-board review) is the 20th of each month. The IRB determines if the proposals need Full-board, Expedited or Exempt review. If you are unsure which type of review your proposal will require, we recommend you submit your proposal by the 20th.

Your study will require a Full-board review if it involves vulnerable subjects such as children, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, prisoners, and those who are institutionalized. Your study will also require a Full-board review if it covers a sensitive topic.

The waiver is for signed consent only. To apply for a waiver please submit a Waiver or Modification of Consent form along with your application. Also, provide the IRB with a consent statement or script to be presented to each person before the research begins.

Electronic submission was designed for our Hawaii and Idaho campuses. Faculty may submit online. Student research requires a faculty signature before a review takes place. In order for students to submit electronically, we must receive an email from the faculty advisor that he/she has read and reviewed the application and it is ready for submission.

Parts A & B should be short statements. The repetition found in the application is to guide the submitter in answering the questions the IRB needs answered to be in compliance with the federal government. Part D is to provide the IRB with enough information to make an informed decision on your research. When Part D is too br /ief, applications are returned for incompleteness and further clarification.

Expedited/Exempt proposals take about two weeks to be reviewed. Full-board proposals take 4-7 weeks to be reviewed. If you have a deadline you are working with, please submit early and let our office know at the time you submit your proposal.

If you have completed the tutorial before, please provide a copy of your tutorial certificate. If you no longer have a copy of the certificate, please call our office to see if we have a record that you completed the tutorial.

No, the IRB will not review any research that has not been signed off by their thesis committee.

Yes, but it is not recommended. The IRB requires a faculty mentor to work with a student. The IRB is a federally regulated committee and has certain governmental requirements. It is difficult for a student to meet those requirements and to complete the application without assistance. Distance makes this difficult and tends to delay the approval process or even prevents the approval from taking place.

Please Email the ORCA Office: orcastu@byu.edu
Contact someone on our staff: Contact Us
or Call us at 422-3841