Human Research Protection Program
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is the research oversight committee charged with ensuring that human subjects research is conducted in compliance with the applicable federal, state, and institutional policies and procedures. “The IRB shall be sufficiently qualified through the experience and expertise of its members (professional competence), and the diversity of its members, including race, gender, and cultural backgrounds and sensitivity to such issues as community attitudes, to promote respect for its advice and counsel in safeguarding the rights and welfare of human subjects.” 45 CFR 46.107
Be sure to allow appropriate time for HSO staff to prepare submissions for review by the IRB. The deadlines for submission are guidelines for most studies. For submissions involving collaborations and FDA-regulated research, allow additional time for meeting preparation. The IRB Chair may Table items that are not ready for review at the meeting. Note: As of July 2024, all oversight for new studies will provided via registration #IRB00000063. The IRB meets as panels (1&2) with each panel meeting once per month. Oversight for studies reviewed under registration #IRB00010889 will continue for modifications and continuing reviews until the studies close. IRB10889 continues to meet at the same schedule as IRB Panel #2.
IRB Panel #1 typically reviews Social Behavioral research, Educational Research, Exercise studies involving healthy adult participants, and some nutritional studies.
| Submission Date for Full Committee Review | Meeting Date |
|---|---|
| November 6, 2024 | December 6, 2024 |
| December 10, 2024 | January 24, 2025 |
| January 21, 2025 | February 21, 2025 |
| February 21, 2025 | March 21, 2025 |
| March 18, 2025 | April 18, 2025 |
| April 23, 2025 | May 23, 2025 |
| May 27, 2025 | June 27, 2025 |
| June 18, 2025 | July 18, 2025 |
| July 22, 2025 | August 22, 2025 |
| August 19, 2025 | September 19, 2025 |
| September 24, 2025 | October 24, 2025 |
| October 21, 2025 | November 21, 2025 |
| November 5, 2025 | December 5, 2025 |
IRB Panel #2 typically reviews Clinical Trials involving drugs, biologics, and devices, FDA-regulated research, Biomedical and Exercise studies involving children and/or patient populations, and some nutritional studies.
| Submission Date for Full Committee Review | Meeting Date |
|---|---|
| November 2, 2024 | December 2, 2024 |
| December 6, 2024 | January 6, 2025 |
| January 3, 2025 | February 3, 2025 |
| February 3, 2025 | March 3, 2025 |
| March 7, 2025 | April 7, 2025 |
| April 5, 2025 | May 5, 2025 |
| May 2, 2025 | June 2, 2025 |
| June 7, 2025 | July 7, 2025 |
| July 4, 2025 | August 4, 2025 |
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:
- Web based training modules for IRB Members available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). This certification must be renewed every three (3) years.
- 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 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.
- 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. Archived Presentations