Human Subjects (IRB)
IRB Approval
Research with human subjects at the University of Florida (UF) requires registration, review and approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB review and approval is required to ensure that the welfare and rights of human subjects involved in research are protected as mandated by federal regulations. UF maintains an Assurance Statement to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which declares its compliance with the federal regulations. Failure by any individual to adhere to these regulations can jeopardize UF’s entire human subject research program.
The UF has three IRBs and utilizes the services of Western IRB (WIRB) for industry sponsored clinical trials. While all four IRBs are governed by the same set of federal rules, each has its own forms and procedures for review. To determine which IRB is applicable to your research project, for additional information and for application forms, please see the IRB website.
IRB Approval Required Prior to Release of Sponsored Project Funds
When human subjects use is considered as part of a sponsored project, the work must be reviewed and approved prior to initiation of the work and in accordance with the IRB approval process mentioned above. The Division of Sponsored Research (DSR) reviews application and award materials for indications of human subjects use. When use is indicated, DSR will ensure the sponsored project is referenced by funding source and title on the IRB application. Release of funds will be withheld until such reference is reviewed and approved by the IRB. If at any time during the life of the sponsored project the IRB protocol is in a non-approved state (lapsed or expired), DSR will authorize the project to be temporarily closed to expenditures.