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Institutional Review Board (IRB) For Human Research Participants Protection

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) for Human Research Participants Protection is a federally mandated committee. Its purpose is to protect the rights and welfare of all persons involved in research activities associated with UWF.

UWF policy requires that all research activities involving human participants must be reviewed by the IRB prior to the recruitment of participants and initiation of data collection. This requirement applies to all research-related activities involving human participants at any UWF campus or conducted by any UWF faculty, staff and/or student.

To all investigators: It is a violation of federal regulations to initiate human subjects research prior to receiving IRB approval. Therefore, it is important that proposals be submitted to the IRB in a timely manner and with consideration of upcoming IRB meetings whenever the project involves completion deadlines (i.e. for publishing or thesis/dissertation submission). UWF asks that investigators please allow up to 4-6 weeks for IRB review.

Recent Updates

New IRB Training Requirement for Faculty Advisors

The recently revised IRB Practice and Procedures Manual has been updated requiring that those listed as faculty advisors for student research have an up to date CITI Training certificate for either the Social & Behavioral Research Basic/Refresher course or the Biomedical Research- Basic/Refresher course.  This prerequisite will be in effect for all new applications and IRBNet packages submitted after Wednesday, April 13th. CITI training certificates can be uploaded to IRBNet user profiles.

Policies & Guidance

In November 2021, UWF moved its IRB Application system online and uses the website IRBNet.org to process all applications. Please note all IRB forms and samples can be found in the Designer section of IRBNet in the drop down Document Library.

IRBNet Training Sessions

RAE hosts weekly IRBNet open sessions where you will be able to ask questions and have our Research Compliance Officer guide you through troubleshooting and submitting your application for the first time. See the IRBNet training calendar at the bottom of this webpage to sign up for the next session.

IRB meetings are reserved for the review of applications in which participants are exposed to "greater than minimal risk" or include vulnerable populations. Applications that will require a convened IRB Meeting must be submitted two weeks in advance of the meeting date in order to be added to the agenda.

Applications referencing "minimal risk" studies are reviewed on a continuous basis.

All IRB meetings are open to the public. Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month during the fall and spring semesters from 1:00pm to 3:00pm (Central). Typically, a single meeting is scheduled during the summer semester.

The meetings will also be held virtually. To join by phone, dial: ‪(US) +1 304-518-2642‬ PIN: ‪425 872 795‬#.

The remaining meetings of academic year 2023-2024 will be held in the Library Multipurpose Room, Bldg 32, Room 215:

The members of the UWF IRB for Human Research Participants Protection include the following representatives:

  • Chair: Dr. Susan Walch, Professor, Psychology
  • Dr. James Arruda, Professor, Psychology 
  • Dr. Gayle Baugh, Associate Professor, Department of Business Administration
  • Dr. Angela Blackburn, Associate Professor, School of Nursing
  • Dr. Jake Bush, Lecturer, School of Nursing
  • Dr. Ludmila Cosio-Lima, Professor, Movement Sciences and Health
  • Dr. Bruce Davidson, Associate Professor, Accounting and Finance
  • Dr. Wesley Farr, Lecturer, Public Health 
  • Dr. Natalie Goulette, Associate Professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Dr. Stephen LeMay, Professor, Department of Commerce
  • Dr. Giang-Nguyen Nguyen, Professor, School of Education
  • Dr. Dustin Rolin, Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice, School of Nursing
  • Mr. Richard Lynch, Community Member

Ex Officio Members

  • Mrs. Natalie Mead, Research Compliance Officer, Research Administration and Engagement
  • Ms. Pennie Sparks, Risk Management Coordinator, Environmental Health and Safety

Alternate Member

  • Dr. Allysha Winburn, Associate Professor, Anthropology

Want more information about the IRB process?

For more information concerning the UWF IRB or to schedule an in-person presentation for your class or group, please contact the Research Compliance Officer at 850-474-3484 or email irb@uwf.edu.

The University of West Florida maintains a Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research and is a registered IRB with the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP).

FWA Number: FWA00002657
IORG Number: IORG0001310

IRB Events

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