Human Ethics (IRB)

What is IRB?

The William & Mary Institutional Review Board (IRB), formerly PHSC, is an administrative body charged with overseeing protocols involving human participants to ensure that research protocols follow OHRP regulations. For more information, please visit the HHS website.

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.

For more details, please see the tab "IRB Research Protocol" and "IRB Guidance Documents."

Active protocols must be CLOSED when data collection has ended and the data being analyzed cannot in anyway be traced back to the participant (e.g. deidenitifed, or coded with link destroyed). If needed, you may submit a "renewal" of your protocol in the SPARCS system. If you are renewing a protocol that only exists in the "compliance.wm.edu" system, you must submit a "new study" and then follow the instructions for submitting an "initial submission."

In the protocol, you can include that this is an extension of a previously approved project; the explanation can be included in the "Supplemental Comments and Attachments" section. A PDF attachment of your original protocol can be included for reference.