The Institutional Review Board (IRB) Office supports Augusta University’s commitment to ethical research by ensuring the protection of human subjects and compliance with federal regulations. We serve as the central point of contact for advancing the goals of the Enterprise Human Research Protection Program (HRPP).
We uphold the ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report—respect for persons, beneficence, and justice—and ensure adherence to federal regulations, including the Common Rule (45 CFR 46) established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These principles guide our efforts to minimize risk, secure informed consent, and ensure participants fully understand the research and associated risks.
The IRB has the authority to approve, exempt, disapprove, monitor, and require modifications to any research involving human subjects, as outlined by federal and institutional policy. All research must receive IRB approval or exemption before any study-related activities begin.
The IRB Office provides a wide range of support services, including:
Research Compliance
Health Sciences Campus
Augusta, GA 30912
(Institutional Compliance Hotline)
October 29, 2025 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Join us at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History for an engaging discussion on breast cancer awareness and prevention with Dr. Samantha R. Jones, cancer biologist and pharmacologist.
This is a free event, open to the public. For more information, please contact Bianca Marsh at bmarsh@augusta.edu or 706-721-3110.
Access the Tools for Researchers database to view IRB-related and institutional policies. Enter a search term—such as IRB, IRB templates, IRB policy, IRB guidance, Exempt, or Expedited—to review a list of relevant documents matching your search.
The Online Human Subjects Determination (OHSD) form is an electronic tool that collects key project details to determine if an activity qualifies as human subjects research and whether IRB review is required. Effective November 1, 2025, this will be the sole method for HSDs.
Our combined OHSD training and consultation services walk you through the form, clarify key terms, and provide project-specific advice, helping you complete entries correctly and expedite the right determination.
Consult with one of our IRB experts to discuss new study proposals, amendments to existing studies, or other study-specific concerns, and receive personalized guidance on the submission process.
Our office offers tailored educational support to Augusta University faculty and staff through one-on-one training and guest lectures on human subjects research and ethics.
Innovative Solutions for Compliance and Research Management
IRBNet is an electronic IRB submission system that was implemented by Augusta University IRB in May 2014.