Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The William & Mary Institutional Review Board (IRB), formerly PHSC, is an administrative body charged with overseeing protocols involving human participants to ensure compliance and ethical practice of research. 

At W&M, the overarching policy guiding the research is the Research with Human Subjects Policy. Researchers must be familiar with the policy prior to submitting IRB protocols. 

Research with Human Subjects Policy

Collapsible list

Federalwide Assurance Number An FWA is an assurance of compliance submitted to the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) by an institution that is engaged in nonexempt human subjects research conducted or supported by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or another U.S. Department or Agency that uses OHRP’s FWA. Renewal is required every 5 years. William & Mary FWA: FWA00008186 William & Mary Expiration Date: 7/22/2030 Looking for another institution's FWA? Use the OHRP search tool to find it.

IRB Name & Registration Number The HHS regulations at 45 CFR part 46, subpart E, require all IRBs to register with HHS if they will review human subjects research conducted or supported by HHS and are to be designated under an assurance of compliance approved for federalwide use (i.e., an FWA) by OHRP. Renewal is required every 3 years. Any updates made to the IRB registration begin a new 3-year registration period.  IRB Name: William & Mary IRB #1 IRB number: IRB00004701 Expiration Date: 02/04/2029

IORG Number The Institution or Organization (IORG) number is a unique number assigned by OHRP to an institution or organization the first time an institution or organization registers an IRB. William & Mary IORG Number: IORG0003966

Quick Start: Managing an IRB Protocol

You must use SPARCS to submit your project proposal.

A properly completed protocol will include a rationale for the study, full procedures, description of the participants, copy of all surveys, questionnaires, all interview questions, the informed consent form and other pertinent information.

Does my Research require IRB Oversight? 

Your study may require IRB oversight if it meets all aspects of the 45 CFR 46 regulatory definitions for "Human Subject" and "Research." If you experience difficulty accessing the following flow chart content due to a disability, please contact [[researchcompliance]] for assistance.

IRB OVERSIGHT FLOW CHART (pdf)

If you are working on another a non-W&M research project, you will also need to determine if you are "engaged" in the research. 

W&M PERSONNEL AND ENGAGEMENT (Canva)

Still unsure?

Complete the Qualtrics Survey, Oversight Determination Assessment. 

Note: The Qualtrics survey is a tool and is not an official IRB determination. For official IRB review, you must submit an Oversight Determination in SPARCS. Under Type of Review/Overview, select Determination if study is IRB regulated research. Watch a tutorial (mp4).