Ethics and Human Research Protection Program

Protecting volunteers in research and developing capacity to assess, analyze and resolve ethical issues in research and public health practice

Revised fee schedule for IRB review

The fee schedule for IRB Review by the Department of Health Institutional Review Board has been revised. Learn more.

Online IRB Applications

• New users--start here: Create an online IRB application
• Existing users: Login

View tips, including an important note about continuing review requirements, and learn about fees for IRB review

Not sure if your project requires IRB review?

Request a consultation distinguishing public health practice and quality improvement from research requiring IRB review

Multiple IRB review

Recently the University of South Florida agreed to recognize review by the Florida Department of Health IRB, when USF researchers are engaged in research involving the Florida Department of Health. This includes studies involving DOH data (for example, birth records), interviews and surveys, and FDA-regulated drug and device studies. USF's decision is an example of how DOH's full accreditation from the Association for Accreditation of Human Research Protection Program benefits researchers.

• USF researchers no longer need to wait for review by both USF and DOH, and do not require duplicate IRB review.
• USF researchers should continue to apply for review by the Florida Department of Health IRB when engaged research involving the Florida Department of Health
• USF researchers no longer need to apply for IRB review from the USF IRB when engaged in research involving the Florida Department of Health

All other researchers conducting research involving the Florida Department of Health still need review by their institution, unless their institution agrees to recognize the review of the Florida Department of Health IRB.

Full Accreditation

The Florida Department of Health is the first state health department to achieve Full Accreditation of its human research protection program from the Association for Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs. Learn more

Program services:

• education
• support for the Institutional Review Boards at the Department of Health
• technical assistance and regulatory analysis concerning research ethics
• ethics consultations concerning public health ethics and ethical issues in public health practice

The Ethics and Human Research Protection Program is part of the Office of Public Health Research at the Florida Department of Health