Human Research Protection Program
Protecting the rights and welfare of human research participants is a cornerstone of ethical research. At SDSU, this commitment is upheld through our Human Research Protection Program. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a vital part of our HRPP. The SDSU IRB committee is a diverse group, composed of faculty members, student representatives, and community members who work together to review human subject research proposals. This ensures that the rights and welfare of research participants are protected and that the proposed research complies with federal regulations, state laws, and local policies.
The IRB reviews protocol submissions on an ongoing basis throughout the academic year. The majority of the proposals submitted to the IRB meet the criteria for Exempt Determination/Expedited Review, and there is no submission deadline for these types of proposals.
The IRB meets monthly, except in July and December.
IRB #00000576 Exp: 5/13/2028
FWA #00003782 Exp: 9/16/2030
Note: The deadline for turning in research proposals is related to REVIEW TYPE.
See calendar below for deadlines.
Only complete research proposal submissions that require no more than minor editorial changes and that are received by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date, will be placed on an agenda.
First time submitting a study? Have no fear - we’ve broken it down into straightforward steps below.
Steps to IRB Proposal Submission
Pending - Submitted for Initial Review
Once your study is received and CITI training has been verified for all study personnel, your submission will be assigned to an IRB analyst for review. Review turnaround depends on the completeness of the submission and the current workload of the assigned analyst.Returned for Corrections
Most of the time, the IRB analyst will request additional clarification, missing supporting documents, or other revisions with stipulations. The study status will change to “Returned for Corrections”. PIs will need to log into iRis to address the stipulations.
Graduate student PIs will also receive a “Modifications Required” letter sent to their email.Determining Review Type
When all stipulations have been addressed, the IRB analyst will determine what review category the study falls into - Exempt, Expedited, or requiring Full Committee Review.
You will receive correspondence regarding the determination.
If your study is deemed Exempt or Expedited, you will receive an approval letter in your email inbox with instructions for accessing your approved and stamped documents in iRIS.
Approved
If your study requires Full Committee Review, the study status will change to “Pending”. After the IRB meeting, it will change back to “Returned for Corrections”.
After you respond to those corrections, you will receive an approval letter.
Study-Related Resources
Additional HRPP Support
Get in Touch
Contact the HRPP office with any questions or concerns regarding Human Subjects Research at SDSU. The HRPP staff are responsible for the program's educational offerings. The staff are happy to meet with investigators one-on-one, or to speak to groups or classes regarding human research.
San Diego, CA 92182
We are here to support you and ensure that your research is conducted ethically and responsibly. Let's work together to make a positive impact through our research efforts.