Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is the administrative and decision-making body having responsibility for review and approval of research involving human subjects. Before any research involving human subjects can be initiated it must have received IRB review and approval. The activities of the IRB are administered by Research Integrity.

Does Your Project Require IRB Approval:

If your project/research meets the federal definitions of research AND human subject your research must be reviewed by the IRB. Research is defined as a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. Human subject is defined as a living individual about whom an investigator conducting research obtains (1) Data through intervention or interaction with the individual, or (2) Identifiable private information. 

Training Requirements:

BGSU requires everyone engaged in human subjects’ research to complete the Social & Behavioral Research through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) website. The initial training is valid for three years. After the initial training expires, researchers are required to complete the refresher course.

Meeting Dates:

Fall 2025

• December 3, 2025 | Submission Deadline: November 26, 2025

Spring 2026

• January 14, 2026 | Submission Deadline: January 7, 2026
• February 4, 2026 | Submission Deadline: January 28, 2026
• March 11, 2026 | Submission Deadline: February 25, 2026
• April 1, 2026 | Submission Deadline: March 25, 2026
• May 6, 2026 | Submission Deadline: April 29, 2026

Summer 2026

• June 3, 2026 | Submission Deadline: May 27, 2026
• July 1, 2026 | Submission Deadline: June 24, 2026
• August 5, 2026 | Submission Deadline: July 29, 2026

Fall 2026

• September 2, 2026 | Submission Deadline: August 26, 2026
• October 7, 2026 | Submission Deadline: September 30, 2026
• November 4, 2026 | Submission Deadline: October 28, 2026
• December 2, 2026 | Submission Deadline: November 25, 2026

Resources:

• Office for Human Research Protections at HHS
• Bowling Green State University Federal Wide Assurance for the Protection of Human Subjects 
• The Belmont Report 
• The Code of Federal Regulations 45 CFR 46
• Revised Common Rule
• Conducting Research in a Foreign Country
• BGSU University Policies - Protection of Human Subjects (3341-7-7) Conflict of Interest in Sponsored Programs & Research (3341-7-1) - Research Misconduct (3341-7-5)

Who can I contact if I have a question about the use of humans as research subjects?

Institutional Review Board (IRB)
irb@bgsu.edu
419-372-7724