Human Research Protection Program

University of Georgia is committed to providing its IRB members with the education and tools necessary for the rigorous and thoughtful review of human research protocols. IRB members are expected to acquire the knowledge to help ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, institutional policies, as well as the ethical concerns related to human research protection.

Following appointment to membership on the IRB and prior to serving as expedited reviewers or acting as a voting member at a convened committee meeting, IRB members and alternate members receive the following training:

• The IRB staff will offer an orientation session for each new member to include instruction on use of the electronic IRB submission system and to educate first-time reviewers on expedited applicability criteria and categories, criteria for IRB approval, and general responsibilities as an expedited reviewer and voting committee member.

UGA IRB staff offer the following additional and continuing education opportunities to current members of the IRB.

• Ongoing Protocol Specific Training: UGA IRB staff disseminate materials containing ethical and regulatory guidance for the review of protocols involving a specialized area, (i.e., gene therapy or tissue banking) or selected vulnerable subject populations (i.e., prisoners) to each IRB member.
• Web based training modules for IRB Members available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). This certification must be renewed every three (3) years.
• IRB Members E-mail Lists: The UGA IRB staff maintains e-mail distribution lists which are used on an ongoing basis to send IRB members a variety of materials such as copies of pertinent articles, regulatory updates, web references to resource materials or government reports, or communication about a specific protocol review. IRB members who do not have e-mail receive paper copies of this material.
• Presentations: Upon request or as appropriate, UGA IRB staff presents training on selected topics at IRB meetings or IRB in-service programs. UGA IRB staff may invite specialists in a specific area to address the IRB as needed.  UGA IRB staff subscribes to and makes available, applicable webinar presentations.