The Human Subjects Office uses Iowa Courses Online (ICON), the UI learning management system, to post educational content for the UI research community. This course is only accessible via this portal to the log-in screen. You must have an active HawkID to access this course. If you have questions or suggestions for additional topics to cover in this course, contact the IRB Education and Outreach Program at irb-outreach@uiowa.edu or 319-335-6564.

Course Overview 

A brief description of what you will find in each of the following sections.

  • HawkIRB Training Series (Parts 1-5)
  • Self-Guided Orientation to HawkIRB and Human Subjects Reserach
  • Student PI Training Requirement
  • IRB Overview Presentation
  • IRB Insights/IRB Efficiency Initiative-Recordings, Tutorials and Documents
  • Topical Lecture Recordings

HawkIRB Training Series (Parts 1-5)

The five-part HawkIRB training series is intended to help UI researchers learn how to navigate the HawkIRB system and complete the required forms for submission to the IRB.

Trainings may be completed in any order, but we strongly encourage completion of parts 1 and 2 before learning about the forms submitted after IRB approval (Part 3). The Part 1 training contains an overview of how to navigate in the HawkIRB system.

  • HawkIRB new project form training (Part 1 and Part 2 )
  • HawkIRB training about forms submitted after IRB approval: modifications, continuing reviews, reportable events, project close form (Part 3)
  • HawkIRB training about single IRB (Part 4)
  • HawkIRB training about the exempt research application (Part 5)

NOTE: HawkIRB is currently 'under construction’ with the 2024-26 HawkIRB Redesign Initiative. As we roll out changes section-by-section, the recorded HawkIRB trainings will be inconsistent with the live HawkIRB system. Continue to use the Help messages associated with each question for guidance on how to respond. See the recorded lectures about these changes in the IRB ICON Course for Researchers, under IRB Insights/IRB Efficiency Initiative.

Self-Guided Orientation to HawkIRB and Human Subjects Research

This training module contains the same content as the Student PI training requirement, however, this was designed for researchers to be able to select the specific modules without having to move through them sequentially. The goal of this training is to provide researchers with information about the IRB review process and the HawkIRB system. 

The training modules are recommended for all new faculty, staff, residents, fellows, professional students, and HawkIRB Delegates who will be using the HawkIRB system.  

The new training includes 10 modules that can be reviewed individually.   Each module in the training is 30 minutes or less.  

The recorded training is posted in the IRB ICON Course for Researchers and consist of the following topics: 

1. Good Research Practices-9:36 
2. Training Requirements and IRB Submission Requirements-7:50 
3. What is and is not HSR and Types of Review-10:05 
4. PI, Faculty Advisor, and DEO Responsibilities-27:21 
5. HawkIRB Orientation-16:27 
6. HawkIRB Navigation-9:28 
7. HawkIRB Workflow Communications-5:10 
8. HawkIRB Attachments & Edit Functions-8:04 
9. Post Approval Responsibilities-21:34 
10. Resources and Asking for Help-9:01 

Student PI Training Requirement

In an ongoing effort to improve the quality of initial HawkIRB submissions and the efficiency of the IRB review process, all graduate and undergraduate student Principal Investigators (PIs) are required to complete a series of ten required educational recordings. This training, initiated in 2021, was updated in 2026 in response to researcher feedback to better prepare student PIs to create thorough, detailed HawkIRB new project forms and learn what to expect from the IRB review process.

To satisfy the Student PI Training Requirement, view the ten recordings in the IRB ICON Course for Researchers and pass the respective quizzes.

Title

Good Research Practices IRB
Training Requirements and IRB Submission Requirements
What is and is not HSR and Types of Review
PI, Faculty Advisor, and DEO Responsibilities and Roles in Research
HawkIRB Orientation
HawkIRB Navigation
HawkIRB Workflow Communications
HawkIRB  Attachments & Edit Functions
Post Approval Responsibilities
Resources and Asking for Help
Student PI Training Quiz

 

IRB Overview Presentation

This is a recording of the general IRB overview presentation. This presentation provides a good orientation to the UI IRB and the IRB approval requirements for human subjects research. It is an excellent supplemental lecture for any research methods or responsible
conduct of research course. It is ideal for students/trainees doing research as a course requirement or as an honors, Master’s or doctoral dissertation.

This presentation covers the following:

  • Guidelines for human subjects research: why and when IRB approval is required.
  • Basic ethical principles for the conduct of human subjects research.
  • Student Principal Investigator (PI) training requirements.
  • What to expect from the IRB review process.
  • Research off campus or outside the United States.
  • Course-related student projects.

IRB Insights/IRB Efficiency Initiative-Recordings, Tutorials and Documents

This section of the ICON course contains:

  • Brief tutorials and resources for new policies, procedures and HawkIRB enhancements implemented as part of the IRB Efficiency Initiative.
  • Recordings and slides from monthly IRB Efficiency Initiative lectures
  • Recordings and slides from monthly IRB Insights lectures.

The IRB Efficiency Initiative. (2024-2025), was an organizational efficiency effort sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research. The focus was on streamlining processes for IRB review to remain competitive with application processing time at peer institutions while maintaining regulatory compliance for the conduct of human subjects research consistent with Human Research Protection Program accreditation standards..

The IRB Insights lecture series. (2026) is designed to inform researchers about new IRB processes, HawkIRB application improvements, and other updates from the UI Human Research Protection Program (HRPP). IRB Insights lectures provide updates on the HawkIRB application redesign. initiative, share regulatory, policy and compliance updates, and offer opportunities for ongoing education and discussion.

Pre-register for IRB Insights lectures

See past IRB Insights lecture recordings and slides

Topical Lecture Recordings

Staff from the Human Subjects Office offer presentations on human subjects research-related topics. Information about presentations for the current semester can be found here. This module contains recordings of past presentations in reverse chronological order.

  • Getting Started – Additional Topic Recordings
  • Mission: Compliance-Implementing Smarter Clinical Trial Oversight-October 2025
  • IRB/ICTS-Using eReg for Assurance Documents, September 2025
  • Serving as the Lead (Coordinating Center and IRB) for a Single IRB of Record (sIRB) Multi-site Study, September 2025
  • Comprehensive Guidelines and Best Practices for Reporting Outcome Measures on ClinicalTrials.gov, November 2024
  • Reportable Event Form Decision Tree, October 2024
  • Conducting Research Involving Student Records: How to Ensure Compliance, October 2024
  • The Roadmap to Regulatory Compliance: Guidelines for ClinicalTrials.gov Registration & Results Reporting, September 2024
  • Working WITH the IRB (IRB/ICTS Lecture), June 2024
  • Human Subjects Research Hot Topics & Updates Lectures 2021-2023