An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a group at an academic or research institution that reviews proposed research projects and evaluates the methodology to ensure safety for human subjects and application of laws and codes on privacy, safety, and ethics.
Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) is a training service to which USC subscribes. USC students, staff, and faculty who are conducting certain types of research will be required to take CITI courses to ensure safety of subjects and ethical conduct of research.
IRB
An Institutional Review Board (IRB) reviews proposed research occurring at a specific clinical site or institution. If your project involves human subjects, you will likely need to file for an IRB review. IRBs are attached to health care systems or institutions. If your research will involve clinical sites outside of USC, you may need to have your research plan reviewed by both the USC IRB and the IRB of the specific clinical site.
The USC Office for the Protection of Research Subjects houses the USC IRB. View their pages below for more information on USC IRB processes, contact information, and applications.
- Types of IRB ReviewDo you need to submit an exempt, expedited, or full review? Find out more here.
- Apply for IRB ReviewLearn about what types of research requires IRB review and what types of research are exempt.
- iStarUSC uses the iStar system for submitting IRB applications. Go to this page for account creation information.
CITI
The USC Office for the Protection of Research Subjects manages the CITI training at USC. Use the links below to explore.
Read more on subject protection and ethics
In addition to these general texts, look in the library catalog for additional titles on specific aspects of human subject protection, ethics, laws, etc.
Evaluating the Science and Ethics of Research on Humans: a guide for IRB membersCall Number: Upper level, W 20.55 H9 M476e 2007
Clinical Research and the LawCall Number: Norris Medical Library, Upper Level, W 33 AA1 T316c 2012
Protecting Study Volunteers in Research: a manual for investigative sitesCall Number: Norris Medical Library, Upper Level, W 32.5 AA1 D923p 2004
Consent to Treatment: a practical guideCall Number: Norris Medical Library, Upper Level, W 32.5 AA1 R893c 2016
Clinical Research: from proposal to implementationCovers IRBs and consent forms
