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
The HRPP Office staff prepare submissions for review by the IRB by completing pre-reviews (see Pre-Review Phase) and then collaborating with the IRB Chairs to determine what expertise is needed to review the project. The pre-review must be complete, and all revised materials received before the meetings schedules are consulted.
Using the deadlines for submission found in the IRB Meeting Schedule accordion, HRPP staff will assess pre-reviewed submissions and identify possible meetings for review. They will then consult the IRB Chairs to assess what expertise is needed to lead the review and will confirm the potential reviewers’ availability for upcoming meetings. When reviewers are assigned and their attendance at an upcoming meeting is confirmed, the submission is added to the agenda.
For submissions involving collaborations and FDA-regulated research, allow additional time for the pre-review phase. The deadlines for submission corresponding to a meeting date are a guide and apply to submissions that do not require many changes during pre-review.
The IRB Chair may Table items that are not ready for review at the meeting that was initially selected.
Note: 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 or oversight is transferred to UGA’s other internal IRB (IRB00000063). 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 |
|---|---|
| October 21, 2025 | November 21, 2025 |
| November 5, 2025 | December 5, 2025 |
| December 23, 2025 | January 23, 2026 |
| January 20, 2026 | February 20, 2026 |
| February 20, 2026 | March 20, 2026 |
| March 24, 2026 | April 24, 2026 |
| April 22, 2026 | May 22, 2026 |
| May 26, 2026 | June 26, 2026 |
| June 24, 2026 | July 24, 2026 |
| July 21, 2026 | August 21, 2026 |
| August 25, 2026 | September 25, 2026 |
| September 23, 2026 | October 23, 2026 |
| October 20, 2026 | November 20, 2026 |
IRB 1 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.
IRB 2 will be deactivated sometime in the future. As of 8/1/2024, it reviews follow-on submissions (modifications and continuing reviews) for research that it reviewed as new research between 6/1/2016-7/30/2024. When all of these older studies are closed, IRB 1 Panel #2 will have oversight for most 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 1, 2025 | December 1, 2025 |
| December 5, 2025 | January 5, 2026 |
| January 2, 2026 | February 2, 2026 |
| February 2, 2026 | March 2, 2026 |
| March 6, 2026 | April 6, 2026 |
| April 4, 2026 | May 4, 2026 |
| May 1, 2026 | June 1, 2026 |
| June 6, 2026 | July 6, 2026 |
| July 3, 2026 | August 3, 2026 |
| August 14, 2026 | September 14, 2026 |
| September 5, 2026 | October 5, 2026 |
| October 2, 2026 | November 2, 2026 |
| November 7, 2026 | December 7, 2026 |
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. Resources are available to anyone who wants to learn more about what the IRB does.
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.
- HRPP Office 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.
HRPP Office staff offer the following continuing education opportunities to current members of the IRB.
- Ongoing Protocol Specific Training: HRPP Office 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: HRPP Office staff maintain 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, HRPP Office staff present training on selected topics at IRB meetings or IRB in-service programs. HRPP Office staff may invite specialists in a specific area to address the IRB as needed. HRPP Office staff also subscribe to, and make available, applicable webinar presentations. Archived Presentations