Institutional Review Board (IRB)

UTRGV Federal Wide Assurance is FWA000000805

The Institutional Review Board at UTRGV is responsible for the oversight of all research involving human participants. They help to ensure that all research participants are treated fairly and ethically and to assist researchers at UTRGV in the inclusion of human subjects' protections in both their study designs and implementation.

The Office of Research Compliance (ORC) will transition to the eIRB system effective July 1, 2026. Tick@lab will no longer be accessible as of June 26, 2026. We recommend investigators download copies of their application following the directions below “How to download your IRB application from Tick@lab.” Below you will find important information related to this transition, including the formal announcement of the transition to eIRB, eIRB training dates, instructions for downloading applications from the current system (Tick@lab), and access to training materials and resources.

eIRB Formal Announcement 

eIRB Training Dates

eIRB Training Session Video

How to download your IRB application from Tick@lab

How to access your application

How to access your projects

How to add personnel to an IRB application

How to login to eIRB

How to request reliance on an external IRB

How to submit an amendment

How to submit an annual check-in

How to submit an initial application

How to submit an IRB continuing review application

How to submit a reportable event form

How to submit a study closure form

• The IRB responsibility is to review and approve research protocols involving human participants to ensure that they adhere to ethical standards, federal regulations and institutional policies.
• The IRB evaluates the potential risks and benefits associated with research participation. It ensures that the risks are minimized and reasonable in relation to the anticipated benefits of the research.
• The IRB provides guidance and education to researchers on ethical conduct in research involving human participants. They also help ensure that participants understand the nature of the research and their rights through informed consent processes.

• The IRB conducts annual check-ins for all approved studies that are not subject to continuing review requirements. The purpose of the annual check-in is to (1) identify and close studies that are no longer active and (2) verify whether any changes have occurred in the research since the last IRB approval. Questions regarding the annual check-in process may be directed to the IRB Coordinators at irb@utrgv.edu.

• Protocols are reviewed in the order in which they are received. Please allow 7–10 business days for the IRB to complete its review. Note that delays may occur during periods of high submission volume or depending on the level of review required (e.g., exempt, expedited, or full board).

• To aid in enhancing efficiency with application processing the IRB is instituting a deadline for responding to review stipulations. Research teams will have 90 days to respond or request an extension before the application is administratively closed.

• To aid researchers in reducing the administrative burden the IRB will be following up with all researchers with not human subject determinations, exempt and expedited studies to verify if they are active. These annual check-ins will inquire as to if the study is still active, if there have been any changes since approval, and if the study can be closed.

• The newly published IRB Student Manual provides clear, practical guidance for students and faculty advisors on navigating the IRB/HRPP process for student-led research. It outlines roles, responsibilities, and step-by-step procedures to support efficient protocol submission, review, and ongoing compliance. The manual serves as a central resource to promote ethical, well-managed research involving human participants. Student IRB Manual

IRB Office Hours
Days/times: 1^st & 3^rd Wednesdays in person from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm & 2^nd & 4^th Wednesday via Teams 
Location: Rio Bank (MRIO 4.309) & Teams Invite
POC: Mariana Hernandez  mariana.Hernandez@utrgv.edu   

We’re excited to announce the release of 11 new micro-tutorials designed to support your research efforts.