This site contains information about the UAH Institutional Review Board, as well as its policies and application procedures.

All research involving human subjects must be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB). The Federal Government establishes special regulations (Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 46) to assure the safety of all human subjects involved in research. UAH and its IRB maintain a strong commitment to treating human subjects ethically and to following all Federal Regulations. IRB approval constitutes assurance that research involving human subjects meets these Regulations and is designed to treat participants fairly and ethically.

Since UAH does not have a medical school, the majority of our IRB applications come from human sciences (psychology and sociology), human factors engineering, and nursing. A smaller number of applications come from biotechnology, engineering, administrative science, communication arts, and political science.

If you are uncertain whether your research requires IRB review, a flow chart is available under "Do I Need Approval."

If you determine that you do need approval or exemption, guidance on application procedures and which forms to use can be found under "How Do I Apply" and "Forms." For further guidance on informed consent and the required elements of a consent form, see "On Informed Consent."

If you have questions about how to complete any of the application materials, please email them to Dr. Ann Bianchi, IRB Chair, at irb@uah.edu or call at 256.824.2465. Please include the phrase <Application Question> in your subject line.

IRB Application Resource Guides

The IRB committee has developed a variety of resources guides to assist in the IRB application process. Our intent is to offer support and guidance while completing a variety of forms needed for IRB application submission. You may want to begin by reviewing the resource guide titled: IRB Overall Process Resource Guide. This guide describes the steps to submitting an IRB application, what forms may be needed, what CITI training certificates are needed, and how the review process takes place once you have submitted your application. It also describes how to submit an extension to your already approved IRB application using Form 5 UAH Institutional Review Board Application for Extension of Approval.

We have included resource guides for completing forms: 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and helpful guidance for completing the Informed Consent form. A Resource guide that describes how to submit a revision to your already approved study as well as guidance on entering into an IRB reliance agreement with another institution that has an IRB committee. There is also a supportive guide describing the IRC Biosafety committee role in submitting a study that uses bio samples.

We also offer 4 excellent examples of Form 1. Each of these examples were given approval upon submission as they were well written, descriptive, and easy to follow. Feel free to use these excellent examples as you prepare form 1 for your study

Classroom Guided Research Guidelines

The UAH IRB committee has developed Classroom Guided Research Guidelines for submitting an IRB application when an instructor intends to conduct a classroom guided research activity for course credit.

Important: Conducting Research Activities Related to SARS-CoV2 During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

If you are submitting a new IRB application that involves collecting deactivated SARS-CoV2 samples you must follow the protocol titled: Conducting Research Activities Related to SARS-CoV2 During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This protocol must be reflected in your IRB application.


Protocol for Research Activity Related to SARS-CoV2

Protocol for In-Person Research Activity with COVID-19 Positive Participants or Suspected to Have COVID-19

Conducting research that includes COVID-19 positive or suspected to have COVID-19 can now be conducted off-campus only.

If you are submitting a new IRB application that involves conducting research with COVID-19 positive or suspected to have COVID-19 you must follow the In-Person Research Activity with COVID-19 Positive Participants or Suspected to Have COVID-19. This protocol must be reflected in your IRB application.

Please note in the protocol the following important instructions:

  • This protocol does not allow in-person research activities with COVID-19 positive participants or suspected to have COVID-19 to be conducted on the UAH campus. At no time should research participants with COVID-19 or suspecting to have COVID-19 be on the UAH campus.
  • This protocol requires all researchers to work remotely while conducting in-person research activities with COVID-19 positive participants or suspected to have COVID-19