IRB and the Office of Human Research Ethics
Important Information about Holiday Deadlines
With the upcoming holidays, please note that the office will be closed for Thanksgiving (11/27-11/28) and Winter Break (12/24/25-1/01/26). The board meeting schedule will be altered in November, December, and January. During the closures, the Office of Human Research Ethics and the IRB will be unavailable to process submissions or answer questions. The altered schedule may impact your study approval if a submission is not received in a timely manner.
Studies that require review by a convened IRB Committee:
- If your study expires prior to January 12th, please submit your Renewal at least no later than December 22nd.
- For approval of initial* submissions prior to the end of the year, please submit no later than December 5th.
Studies that do not require review by convened IRB committee:
- If your study expires between December 22nd and January 5th, please submit your Renewal by December 15th.
- For approval of initial* submissions prior to the end of the year, please submit no later than December 15th.
The Office of Human Research Ethics (OHRE) is responsible for ethical and regulatory oversight of research at UNC-Chapel Hill that involves human subjects. The OHRE administers, supports, and guides the work of the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and all related activities. Any research involving human subjects proposed by faculty, staff, or students must be reviewed and approved by an IRB before research may begin, and before related grants may be funded.
