Office of the Vice President for Research
Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)
The research community at the University of Virginia (UVA) recognizes the immense contribution that human subjects provide the research initiative. The Human Research Protection Program advocates for human subjects in research by working in concert with UVA researchers to ensure that they have the education and tools they need to work ethically with participants in their research studies. UVA’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) & Post-Approval Monitoring (PAM) offices work with the other HRPP partner offices to ensure that compliance with federal regulations and ethical principles create research environments that are proactively protecting participants as researchers achieve their research goals.
Is my project a Human Subject Research study?
Not every project is Human Subject Research. It is the responsibility of each investigator to seek IRB review and approval prior to initiation of any research involving human subjects or before conducting any clinical investigation. The Evaluate My Project tool was created to help you to get the formal determination letter that documents IRB oversight is not needed for your project. Check out our Non-Human Subject Research webpage to learn more about these types of project determinations.
To which side of the IRB should I submit my study?
UVA is a large institution. To better serve the research community, the IRB has specialized. One side of the IRB focusing on biomedical research (the IRB-HSR) that serves the Health System and reviews studies that fall under HIPAA regulations. The other side of the IRB, the non-biomedical (the IRB-SBS) side, focuses primarily on serving Social, Behavioral and Educational (SBER) research. Check out the decision tree on our webpage here to learn more about which side of the IRB you should submit your study to or reach out to us if you have any questions.
Timeline for a Human Subject Research Study
Important Dates
IRB-SBS Full Board Meetings
IRB-SBS Full Board Meeting
Virtual
The IRB-SBS Full Board Meetings occur on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month.
IRB-HSR Full Board Meeting
Virtual
IRB-SBS Full Board Meeting
Virtual
IRB-HSR Full Board Meeting
Virtual
Suggestion Box
Share your thoughts on what you like or any feedback for improvements with us here.
Your ideas will help us to shape future plans for UVA's Human Research Protection Program.
Note, for urgent matters, please see the Compliance Helpline.
IRB review is based on the ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report, the Nuremburg Code, and the Declaration of Helsinki.
Please refer to our Ethical Principles webpage to learn more.
The University of Virginia's Biomedical and Behavioral Institutional Review Boards (IRB-HSR and IRB-SBS) both apply the federal regulations for the review of human subject research studies as appropriate to the specific research project.
More information can be found on our webpage about the federal regulations.
University of Virginia Institutional Official: Lori McMahon, Vice President for Research
FWA Information
UVA Federal Wide Assurance
FWA#:00006183
Exp. Date: July 7, 2026
More information on UVA's Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) can be found here.
Anonymous Reporting
Allegations of misconduct can be reported confidentially to the University's Research Integrity Officer (RIO) in the Office of the Vice President for Research or through the University's Compliance Helpline.
