Institutional Review Board (IRB)

All face-to-face human research must be suspended due to State of Ohio mandates communicated to the IRB through the University's Emergency Operations Committee. All in-person research is on hold until our area (Summit County) is deemed safe for limited high risk activities to resume. When we reach this level of allowing limited high-risk activities to occur so that face-to-face human research is safe to continue, a notification will be issued via the Digest and this page.

The University of Akron Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects (IRB) is an administrative body established to protect the rights and welfare of individuals recruited for participation in research conducted under the auspices of the university or its affiliates. Its mission is to advance an organizational culture and infrastructure that supports the highest ethical standards in the review and implementation of research with human participants. The University of Akron gives the IRB ultimate authority for approval of research with human participants.

Submitting an Application to the IRB

IRB applications must be submitted electronically, via email to irb@uakron.edu.  IRB applications can be approved through exempt or expedited review and will not require a presentation to the full board.  IRB applications eligible for exempt or expedited review may be submitted electronically any time and will be reviewed as they are received. The process for exempt and expedited review and approval takes about two to three weeks. In general, the more complete the initial proposal, the less time it takes for approval.  Applicants should retain a copy of their protocol for their own records. For questions, please contact the Office of Research Administration, 330-972-7666 or irb@uakron.edu. 

IRB Meeting Schedule and Application Deadlines

IRB meetings are held, if needed, monthly, one month after the deadline.  Beginning in March 2020 through August 2020, the IRB will meet monthly, on the third Friday of the month, at 10:00 a.m.  Due to COVID-19, IRB meetings are held remotely using WebEx.  In-person meetings are usually held in Leigh Hall with the room to be reserved and announced prior to the meeting.

IRB Resources

• IRB Members 2019-2020
• University of Akron IRB Guidelines
• IRB Forms
• Federal Regulations and Guidance
• DHHS Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) - 45 CFR 46
• OHRP Human Subjects Decision Trees
• NIH Certificates of Confidentiality Kiosk
• The Belmont Report - Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects in research