The University of Connecticut-Storrs Institutional Review Board is responsible for the review of all human subjects research conducted at or by the UConn-Storrs Campus, the five regional campuses, the School of Law and the School of Social Work.
The IRB seeks to create a collaborative relationship with the research community to assure that research with human subjects is conducted in accordance with legal requirements and ethical principles of Respect for Persons, Beneficence and Justice. These principles require the balancing of risks to subjects against the scientific knowledge to be gained and the potential benefits to subjects and society.
The IRB also focuses on the informed consent process to assure that subject participation in research is voluntary.
IRB Meeting Dates & Deadlines
Only higher risk studies are reviewed by the Full IRB at a meeting. The deadlines only apply to those studies. Minimal risk studies can be submitted to the IRB office at any time. For questions regarding the risk-level of a study contact the IRB office.
Deadlines for paper and electronic submissions are 4:30PM.
Please note: If you are making an electronic submission, you must complete your department’s internal review process by the 4:30PM deadlines.
| Deadlines for IRB Meeting Protocol Submissions | Meeting Dates |
| Thursday, October 30, 2014 | Thursday, November 13, 2014 |
| Tuesday, November 25, 2014 | Thursday, December 11, 2014 |
| Monday, December 22, 2014 | Thursday, January 8, 2015 |
| Thursday, January 15, 2015 | Thursday, January 29, 2015 |
| Thursday, February 5, 2015 | Thursday, February 19, 2015 |
| Thursday, February 26, 2015 | Thursday, March 12, 2015 |
| Thursday, March 19, 2015 | Thursday, April 2, 2015 |
| Thursday, April 9, 2015 | Thursday, April 23, 2015 |
| Thursday, April 30, 2015 | Thursday, May 14, 2015 |
IRB Help Sessions
- If you need help with an IRB protocol application, call us and make an appointment. We can no longer offer Drop-in Help or accommodate people who just stop by.
- Before you can make an appointment, you have to attend a group IRB Help Session. Yes, we are taking attendance!
- Group IRB-Help Sessions will answer your basic questions and give you tips about the IRB Application forms, Amendments, Consent Forms, Site Permission letters, Interview Guides, etc.
All IRB Help sessions are held in Whetten Graduate Center, Classroom 200. Each session will last one hour. IRB Help Sessions dates are as follows:
Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.
Thursday, October 9 at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, November 19 at 11:00 a.m.
Responsibility
The responsibility of the UConn-Storrs IRB is to work with the University research community to help make sure that human subjects engaged in research are:treated with dignity;adequately protected from risk of harm; and,voluntarily give informed consent to participate in research.
The IRB also follows the ethical principals found in the Belmont Report and codified in “The Common Rule” set out in 45 CFR 46, subpart A. It also follows subparts B-D of 45 CFR 46.
Before any work may begin on a research protocol, the IRB must review and approve the research. The IRB also reviews ongoing research at least annually to help investigators ensure the continued protection of subjects. In addition, the IRB reviews all changes to research protocols before implementation. In accordance with federal regulations, the IRB has the authority to suspend or terminate approval of research that is not being conducted in accordance with the IRB’s decisions, conditions, and requirements, or that has been associated with unexpected serious harm to subjects.
