The eIRB Application Process

  • The eIRB system will communicate with you via your WFU Google mail account—check it often.
  • A faculty member must be the Principal Investigator (PI) on student-initiated research; the student is the Student Co-investigator.
  • The PI must initially submit the application.
  • Once submitted, the system will prompt all study team members to “agree to participate”; the application cannot be approved until they do so.
  • Click on Help bubbles help bubbles to see additional guidance throughout the application.
  • In the upper and lower banner of the application:
    • Click ‘Save’ before clicking ‘Back’ or ‘Exit’ or ‘Jump to’. Failing to do so may delete your entries.
    • ‘Hide/Show Errors’ allows you to see any errors that require correction.
    • Use the ‘Jump to’ drop down menu to navigate to any page.
  • When present, clicking ‘Add’ allows you to upload a new document. Clicking ‘Upload Revision’ will replace the current document.
  • When presented with checkboxes, you can select all that apply; radio buttons allow only one choice. Your selection may conditionally display clarifying language and/or more questions. Be sure to respond to any additional items presented.
  • Once submitted, the application comes to the IRB administrator who reviews the application. She may return the application to you with “concerns” which you will address and then return the application. If all concerns were adequately addressed, most applications will be sent to a single Board Reviewer for review. The Board Reviewer may have additional “concerns” which you will address and then return the application.
  • Research that is determined to require review by the full board will be scheduled for discussion at the next regular IRB meeting. Such applications must be submitted no later than one week before the scheduled meeting date.
  • The electronic review process is like tennis—when the application is in your court, the IRB cannot interact with it and when you return it to the IRB court, you cannot make any revisions until it is sent back to you.
  • If you receive concerns from a reviewer, be sure to click ‘See More’ (if present) to see all concerns. If concerns are overlooked or inadequately addressed, the application will be returned to you and approval will be delayed.
  • Address the concern within the application page and/or document if applicable. Responses to the reviewer in the text box do not become part of the approved application.
  • When all concerns have been addressed, be sure to ‘Submit Response to Reviewer’. The application’s ‘Current State’ will change from ‘Concerns Pending’ to ‘IRB Administrator Review’. (Look in the left sidebar of the study workspace.)
  • Address every concern, be consistent throughout the application and proofread carefully. If you don’t understand a concern, contact the administrator. Every time your application is returned it goes to the end of the queue. Once all Administrator and Board concerns are addressed, the application can be approved.
  • Be advised that, by regulation and IRB policy, any changes to your approved research must be reviewed and approved via the amendment process.

Contact IRB

General Inquiries
irb@wfu.edu

John V. Petrocelli, Chair 
Department of Psychology
336.758.4171
petrocjv@wfu.edu

Jeanie Baird, CIP
Associate Director for Human Research Protection and Human Protections Administrator
336.758.5195
bairdjl@wfu.edu

Lindsay Jarvis
Human Subjects Protection Specialist
jarvisl@wfu.edu

IRB, c/o ORSP
306 Reynolda Hall
Wake Forest University
PO Box 7528
Winston-Salem, NC 27109-7528
336.758.5888