The Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)

The Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) is the IRB office for the entire University and provides support for all Penn State researchers, including those at the College of Medicine and Penn State Health.

HRPP News and Announcements

The HRPP announces an upcoming upgrade to the CATS IRB system; the upgrade is expected to be completed during fall semester 2022. Learn more.

April 1, 2022: HRPP document updates in effect: Learn more

Single IRB Fees: the HRPP is now charging fees to serve as the reviewing IRB for multi-center and cooperative projects that designate Penn State as the reviewing IRB. Learn more.

HRPP Review Times: Although the goal of the recent unification of the University's IRB programs is to lessen the burden on investigators, the current time from submission to pre-review of a submission by an IRB Analyst is approximately 8 business days. Read the article for more details. An HRPP Advisory Committee has also been established: learn more.

HRPP Updates Sept. 2021: Learn more about changes to the IRB review process, including study personnel requirements and consent form templates.

Learn more about COVID-19 and human subjects research.

Getting Started

Learn if an IRB submission is required for your study and answer your questions about preparing submissions, required training, and the CATS IRB by reviewing our guides, videos, and training opportunities found under Training and Resources. The IRB 5 Basic Steps are a good starting point for a quick overview of the IRB submission process.

IRB Analysts

IRB Analysts are staff who help investigators prepare a submission for approval. At University Park, analysts are assigned based on the first initial of the PI’s last name. Please contact the appropriate IRB Analyst with questions, even if a protocol has not yet been submitted.