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Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Institutional Review Board ∙ irb@umd.edu ∙ 301-405-4212 ∙ 1204 Marie Mount Hall ∙ Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM


Welcome to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Office

AAHRPP Full Accreditation Seal

What is an IRB?

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee that performs ethical review of proposed research to help assure the protection of the rights and welfare of human participants. The IRB approves the initiation of and conducts periodic reviews of research involving human participants. Investigators also share the responsibility for protecting human participants.

To submit an application please visit IRBNet.

If you do not have an account, go to IRBNet, then click “New User Registration” in the upper right hand corner and follow the instructions. Your IRBNet account is NOT linked to your UMD ID.

For more information on how to submit via IRBNet, please click here

Review Paths

Review Path Flowchart (PDF)

Human Subject Research Determination

If you are unsure if your project requires IRB review and approval, please download, complete, and submit the HSRD Form through IRBNet. You will receive an official determination confirming no IRB Approval is needed or additional information will be requested.

Exempt Review

To receive an Exempt Determination from the IRB, a protocol must fall into one or more of eight (8) federally-defined exempt categories. Examples of Exempt research are: anonymous surveys/interviews, passive observation of public behavior without collection of identifiable information, retrospective chart/record/data reviews, analysis of discarded pathological specimens without identifiers, etc.

Expedited Review

To qualify for an Expedited Review, research should fall into one or more of nine (9) federally-defined Expedited categories and present no greater than minimal risk to participants. 

Full IRB Review

Protocols which do not meet either Exempt or Expedited review criteria will be added to the next available agenda for review at the fully convened IRB Meeting. Research activities presenting greater than minimal risk or transactions increasing the potential risk, will always be referred to the full convened IRB Meeting for review.

Submission Deadlines and Meeting Dates are available in the table at the bottom of this page.

IRB Composition

The IRB is a review committee consisting of faculty, students, staff, and outside members that has been established to help protect the rights and welfare of human participants participating in research. It is established to evaluate the ethical implications and conduct a risk-benefit analysis of research involving human participants through the application of 45CFR46 (Code of Federal Regulations governing human subject research).

For additional information regarding the review committee, the Office for Human Research Protections' (OHRP) provides the webinars listed below:

Federalwide Assurance

FWA: 00005856
IRB Registration: IRB00000474
IRB Organization: 0000281

To check the expiration dates for these Assurances, please refer to the Department of Health and Human Services website for the Office for Human Research Protections(OHRP) database.

The University of Maryland College Park Federal Wide Assurance and the IRB registration are listed under "U of Maryland Coll Park Campus."

Investigator Handbook

This resource provides a high level overview of human subject research regulations and institutional guidelines that is meant to assist investigators new to human subject research or as a refresher for more seasoned investigators. 

Currently, the Investigator Handbook is undergoing updating to reflect recent changes in regulations.  Please contact irb@umd.edu with any questions.

Standard Operating Procedures and Policies

This resource provides a detailed outline and thorough description of the Standard Operating Procedures that are specific to the UMD Office of IRB Operations:

IRB Office - Standard Operating Procedures (PDF)

This is the overarching University Maryland System Policy on Human Subjects of Research:

IV-2.10- UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SYSTEM POLICY ON HUMAN SUBJECTS OF RESEARCH

 

Full Board Meeting Dates and Deadlines

 

Meeting Date Application Submission Deadline
January 12, 2023 December 26, 2022
February 09, 2023 January 22, 2023
March 09, 2023 February 19, 2023
April 13, 2023 March 26, 2023
May 11, 2023 April 23, 2023
June 08, 2023 May 21, 2023
July 13, 2023 June 25, 2023
August 10, 2023 July 23, 2023
September 14, 2023 August 27, 2023
October 12, 2023 September 24, 2023
November 09, 2023 October 22, 2023
December 14, 2023 November 26, 2023
January 11, 2024 December 26, 2023
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