ATTENTION University Park Faculty, Staff & Students: Effective October 1, 2009, University Park faculty, staff, and students must submit applications for NEW studies using the IRB eSubmission process (PRAMS) located at http://www.prams.psu.edu. Paper applications for NEW studies WILL NOT be accepted beginning October 1, 2009. Instructions for accessing PRAMS from outside of the Penn State computer network are available at: http://www.research.psu.edu/orp/areas/humans/applications/accessingprams.asp.

Other Campus Locations: Use of the IRB eSubmission process (PRAMS) to submit applications for NEW studies will be required as of January 1, 2010. However, you may begin using the system now - http://www.prams.psu.edu. Instructions for accessing PRAMS from outside of the Penn State computer network are available at: http://www.research.psu.edu/orp/areas/humans/applications/accessingprams.asp.

About the Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Penn State has established two IRBs to review human participant research. Each board has the expertise available to review both social science and biomedical research.

The IRBs consist of faculty, staff, and community members appointed by the Senior Vice President for Research. Each IRB must have at least one community member serving on the board who is not employed or affiliated with the University or has an immediate family member employed or affiliated with the University. All IRB activities are coordinated through the Office for Research Protections (ORP) located at The 330 Building, Suite 205.

The IRB is responsible to review and approve, require modifications in, or withhold approval of research involving human participants. Approval is only granted for one year or less; therefore, the IRB is also responsible for reviewing ongoing activities on a continuing basis. To assist in the ongoing reviews, ORP sends a Continuing Progress Report and Review (CR) form to the principal investigator approximately four to eight weeks prior to the expiration of the approval. This form must be completed and returned to ORP before the approved expiration date. Once approval has expired, the project will be inactivated and the file will be sent to University archives and subsequently destroyed. Once a project's approval has expired, a new application will need to be completed for review and approval before human participants research can resume. It is very important for investigators to follow their approved protocols. If a protocol is not followed as approved, the IRB may suspend those activities.

PLEASE NOTE: Approval for expedited and full review studies is granted for a maximum of one year. ORP attempts to reach all investigators prior to the expiration date of their protocol, however, the principal investigators are responsible for ensuring their approval does not lapse.

If you have suggestions for IRB-related workshop topics, please submit them on our Topic Suggestions page.