The Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews human subjects research conducted by Sacramento State researchers to ensure appropriate participant protections.

IRB Steps

1. IRB Oversight Self-Determination,
2. Complete Training in CITI,
3. Request access to Cayuse and Submit Application,
   
4. IRB Review & Approval.

1. IRB Oversight Determination

Please use this self-determination tool or review our SharePoint guidance to determine whether your activity requires IRB review. We welcome questions early to avoid unnecessary submissions.

IRB Oversight Self-Determination Tool

Not Human Subjects Research Guidance (SharePoint)

2. CITI Training

Human Subjects Research certification must be current upon IRB application submission.

CITI Auto-Enroll Links (New!)

Select only one option below. The links below will automatically enroll you in your selected Human Subjects Research course. It will show under Courses Ready to Begin:

All Undergraduate and Masters Students

Biomedical Faculty, Staff, Doctoral Student

Social-Behavioral-Educational Faculty, Staff, Doctoral Student

3. Cayuse Access and Submissions

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a. First-time Access Request

First-time users will need to request the creation of a profile to access Cayuse. Access should be available within one working day. Please email cayuse@csus.edu with questions or issues.

Cayuse Access Request

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b. Start a Cayuse Application

Cayuse applications are dynamic documents that can be accessed by the research team and updated over time until it is ready for submission and IRB review. Applications have embedded guidance and links that assist the investigator in the application writing process.

Cayuse IRB Library (SharePoint)

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c. Protocol Guidance

The IRB provides guidance on various research topics, such as: Informed consent form template, demographic questionnaires, Vulnerable and protected populations, Parental consent and child assent, Data security and storage, and much more.

Research Protocol Guidance (SharePoint)

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d. After Approval

If you need to request a modification, submit an incident report, renew an ongoing Full Board study, or close the protocol, view the appropriate guide from the Cayuse Library.

Cayuse IRB Library (SharePoint)

4. Review Timelines

Deadlines do not apply to the majority of research. Please review our normal timeline and plan accordingly.

Review Timelines & Deadlines (SharePoint)

Other Situations

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a. Classroom Projects

Students required to complete a research project as part of a course requirement (except for theses/dissertations) within the semester are fully under the supervision of their professor and do not require IRB review. Faculty are encouraged to use the Student Form, when research is about human subjects, and require students to submit these forms for faculty review prior to research commencing. The absence of IRB review does not mean an absence of research ethics.

Student Form for Classroom Project (SharePoint)

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b. Reliance Agreements for Cooperative Research

Reliance Agreements should only be considered when a Sacramento State affiliate will be working with an external investigator to conduct research. These agreements should only be entered when both campuses are:

1. Collecting informed consent,
2. Collecting data (identifiable or not), and/or
3. Analyzing identifiable data.

This agreement involves the cooperation of both campuses, and administrators of both IRBs must be included in the communication and routing of this form.

Reliance Agreements (SharePoint)

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c. External Investigators

If you are not affiliated with Sacramento State and would like to enroll participants from our campus, please email your IRB approval letter and approved informed consent form(s).

Submit IRB Approval Letter