UI Institutional Review Boards
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an independent, autonomous, ethical review committee that oversees human subjects research conducted by UI faculty, staff and students. The UI IRBs include:
•IRB-01 (biomedical research)
•IRB-02 (social/behavioral/educational research)
•IRB-03 (research at VA Health Care System)
•IRB-04 (research funded by Department of Defense) -inactive
Researchers select an IRB based on the department in which they conduct their research and the nature of the study.
The UI IRB may enter into reliance agreements for UI investigators to rely on a commercial or academic IRB, or for external investigators to rely on the UI IRB. This is called a single, central or external IRB model.
Human Subjects Office
The Human Subjects Office (HSO) is the administrative office for the IRB and the UI Human Research Protection Program (HRPP).
HSO staff review HawkIRB applications, conduct compliance monitoring and provide educational guidance and resources. HSO staff provide support for ClinicalTrials.gov registration and reporting and provide guidance and oversight for the use of a Single, Central or External IRB model. The HSO also includes the Conflict of Interest in Research Office.
Educational Resources
Resource | Description |
| Electronic roadmap to navigate the complex UI research environment | |
Research Navigation Tool for New Faculty and Research Scientists | This tool is used to begin the onboarding process for new UI faculty and research scientists. It provides information about programs for research support.
|
| Reference document for UI IRB policies and procedures and guidance for researchers | |
| For submission of all IRB application forms. Integrated with UI Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) units. | |
| Learn to navigate in the HawkIRB system and prepare forms for IRB approval. Recordings available in the IRB ICON Course for Researchers. | |
| A collection of resources available to anyone with a HawkID. Includes: HawkIRB trainings, IRB Overview, IRB Efficiency Initiative information sessions and demonstrations, and recordings on a wide variety of additional topics | |
| Virtual drop-in via Zoom, no appointment necessary. Spring/Fall (twice a week); Summer (once a week) | |
| Articles and announcements for the UI research community (Principal Investigators, research team members, HawkIRB Delegates and by request. | |
| A standard IRB overview presentation (recording available in IRB ICON Course for Researchers) or lecture tailored to meet the needs of the students/group. | |
| Provides a general overview of UI IRB structure and approval/training requirements | |
| Outlines the Faculty Advisor responsibility for overseeing research conducted by student PIs | |
| Regarding exception from IRB approval for certain projects conducted as a course requirement for research methods courses. Use checklist to confirm exception. | |
| Defines common acronyms and terms for UI human subjects research | |
| Guidance for establishing reliance agreements for lead or relying sites for federally funded, multi-site research and industry-sponsored research | |
| Guidance for registration and results reporting for applicable clinical trials (ACT) | |
| Separate checklists (funded research or internal, departmental or unfunded research) provide guidance and notify the Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP) and/or the Human Subjects Office (HSO). |
HawkIRB: eResearch Application System
HawkIRB is a homegrown eResearch application system. People with a HawkID can click the tile on the Human Subjects Office website to access this system. Use the following features/resources to prepare HawkIRB applications:
•Help Messages
associated with most questions
•Carousel index with links to (1) What you need to start, and (2) Why the IRB needs this information
•Workflow communication during IRB review process
•All forms for submission plus a mechanism to check the status of other HRPP committee reviews
Human Subjects Protection Training
See Training Requirements and follow instructions in the UI CITI Program Users Guide to register for required and optional courses.
Other trainings available : Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), Good Clinical Practice (GCP), HSP Training Refresher, VA HSP Training and Refresher, and Export Controls.
Graduate and Undergraduate students must complete the student PI training requirement in the IRB ICON Course for Researchers.
For a printable version: HSO/IRB Overview and Educational Resources
Revised 6/2025