Human Subjects Protection (IRB)

Do I Need IRB Approval?

Federal regulations regarding human research set forth a minimum standard for what must be reviewed by an IRB.  Additionally, each institution is granted a Federalwide Assurance (FWA) with the Department of Health and Human Services which requires it to implement its own policies.  Institutional policies must, at a minimum, reflect the federal standards, but may also go above and beyond those standards as each institution determines necessary and appropriate.  UNF's institutional policies define the jurisdiction of the IRB as follows:

The jurisdiction of the IRB includes all human subject research that is conducted or directed:

• by UNF faculty, staff, students, agents, affiliates, or outside researchers, and occurs on the property of the University of North Florida;
• by UNF faculty, staff, students, agents, affiliates, or associated outside researchers, and occurs elsewhere;
• elsewhere by an outside researcher involving UNF faculty, staff, students, agents, or affiliates;
• by UNF faculty, staff, students, agents, affiliates, or outside researchers, and involves the use of UNF's non-public information to identify and/or recruit human research subjects or prospective subjects;
• by UNF faculty, staff, students, agents, affiliates, or outside researchers and receives funds through UNF or receives support by internal resources; and
• by UNF faculty, staff, students, agents, or affiliates that is supported by federal funds or any other external resource(s).

ALL investigators conducting research falling into any of the categories listed above are required to submit a protocol to the IRB for review.  If you have any doubts about whether or not your project falls into one of these categories, you may contact IRB administrative staff at dawn.oconnor@unf.edu.