IRB Responsibilities

• All research projects involving the use of human or animal subjects must be submitted to the IRB for approval. If it is unclear whether the proposed research involves human or animal subjects, the investigator should seek assistance from the committee chair. Applications shall be submitted to the chair well in advance of the deadline for which the proposal is to be submitted (if being submitted to an external funding agency) or on which the research is to begin. If external funding is being sought, one copy of the complete proposal must be submitted along with the IRB application. Application forms may be obtained from the chair or online. The chair will log in and review the application material for procedural omissions prior to distribution to the full Committee for their review in advance of the next meeting or committee interactions.
   
• The IRB will meet as needed and conduct as much of its business electronically as is feasible. When the proposal contains copyrighted materials, the investigator is asked to send only one original set of these materials. The Board will share access to the one copy as needed.
   
• An expedited review procedure is possible for those applications which involve no more than minimal risk to subjects and also fall under one of the research categories eligible for expedited review or fall under the categories exempted by federal regulations. (See the list at Expedited Categories and Exempt Categories.) Final determination as to whether a specific project is eligible for expedited review can only be made by the IRB. For information as to whether or not your research project falls under either of these category definitions, contact the chair of the IRB Committee.
   
• Final approval by the IRB shall require a majority vote by members. If the IRB agrees that the proposed research protects human and or animal subjects in accordance with established standards, its conclusion shall constitute certification of approval. A letter of approval will be sent to the investigator. The faculty advisor will be copied on any correspondence sent to a student/cadet investigator.
   
• In the case of a proposal being submitted to an external funding agency, certification of IRB approval of the protocol will be included in materials submitted to the external funding source. Documentation of IRB approval will be submitted in the form required by the agency.