IRB | Research

Welcome to Tarleton’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) website. The IRB is charged with the protection of human subjects involved in research through compliance with regulations specified by the Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) operating under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as other institutional policies. As of January 21, 2019, the revised Common Rule went into effect. All research protocols submitted after that date should comply with the revised Common Rule. Below you will find instructions for submitting a human subjects research proposal, including information on training and IRBNet, the online submission system.

Is an IRB Review Required?

Training:

Tarleton State University requires all individuals conducting or participating in research involving human subjects (including faculty, staff, and students) to complete training via the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).

Investigators are required to complete the following modules:

Social & Behavioral Research – Basic/Refresher Responsible Conduct of Research Revised Common Rule (optional) Investigators should upload certificates of completion to their individual profiles within the IRBNet online submission system. Certificates can then be linked to subsequent IRB submissions. For help registering with the CITI system, download this training document.

The Policy and Procedures Manual for the Tarleton State University Institutional Review Board for Protection of Human Subjects is the final authority related to IRB policies and procedures and supersedes any guidance offered on these webpages or other communications.

Submitting Proposal for IRB Review:

Please use the new submission forms as we will no longer accept the old forms after March 1, 2019.

Step 1: Complete the initial application and Claim for Exempt or Expedited Review, if applicable.
Step 2: Submit all applicable documents via the online IRBNet system.
Step 3: Complete exempt and expedited proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis in the order they are received. Full board reviews will be considered in accordance with the IRB guidelines.
Step 4: Monitor your email inbox for communication from the Compliance Coordinator.
Step 5: If the IRB requests clarification or revisions, you will be notified by the Compliance Coordinator.
Step 6: Upon approval of your proposal, the IRB chair will notify you via email within the IRBNet online submission system.

Note: IRB approval is granted for one calendar year. For amendments, continuations, and closeouts, complete the Closeout/Amendment/Continuation Form. To submit a proposal to the Tarleton IRB, complete the proposal packet using the steps below and upload into the IRBNet submission system. A submission checklist is provided that lists the documents to be included with the proposal packet and the steps to submit a proposal in the online IRBNet system. For more information, see the Resources Toolbox.

All researchers engaged in sponsored research activities must fully and conspicuously disclose the identity of the research sponsor on or in any communications intended for public dissemination or use Texas Education Code 51.954 and 51.955.