Before any research activity involving human subjects may be initiated, review and approval by the University of Connecticut Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Office of Research Compliance (ORC) is required. If the proposed research will include participants from other agencies or institutions, a separate IRB review may be required by each agency or institution involved. In most instances, IRB review is not required before a funding proposal is submitted; in some circumstances a sponsoring agency will require IRB approval before a funding decision is made. Specific IRB requirements affecting your proposal should be clarified early in the proposal preparation process; requirements are typically described in the RFP issued by the sponsoring agency. ORS can assist PI’s in clarifying when IRB review should be initiated and in submitting required paperwork at the designated time.

UConn’s IRB website provides extensive information for faculty and students planning to conduct research involving human subjects. An online Researcher’s Guide addresses standards and questions relevant to specific research approaches (e.g., computer-based; naturalistic research), procedures (e.g., subject recruitment; obtaining consent), and other issues (e.g., use of deception). A complete description of the application process and all required application forms, as well as samples and suggested templates for informed consent/assent, can be downloaded. IRB meeting dates and deadlines for submission of materials for full IRB review are also posted.

All investigators and key personnel engaged in research involving human subjects must complete the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) course and certification process before submitting an IRB protocol for review. Investigators applying for NIH funding must also satisfy NIH training requirements before initiating the study. ORS can assist faculty and students in accessing and registering for both the CITI course and NIH online training. ORS will retain a copy of training certifications completed by faculty (if requested)for use in subsequent applications.