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IRB Guidance and Resources

Cornell IRB guidance and policies, and links to external sources to help you plan, obtain, and maintain IRB approval for your project

Are you conducting a human participant research project that requires enrollment of Cornell students on the first day of the Fall 2025 semester (August 25)? 
1. Submit your IRB protocol by July 28th to enable approval (or exemption) in time.
2. Include the relevant semester in your protocol title (i.e., "Fall 2025").
3. Make sure your protocol is well-prepared and complete: attach all documents, fully answer all questions clearly and consistently.
4. Respond swiftly to IRB reviewer comments.
5. Anticipate more time for studies requiring ancillary reviews (e.g., IBC, Radiation Safety).
6. As always, contact irbhp@cornell.edu with any questions.

Looking for guidance and resources? The links and documents below will help you to understand the main processes and guidelines used by the Cornell IRB, as well as external policies, regulations and best practices that might apply to your research using human participants.

Cornell IRB Guidance & Procedures

Start here: if you aren't sure whether your activity is covered under Cornell's Human Research Protection Program, review this Decision Tree.

 

External Regulations & Guidance

Here is a list of selected laws, regulations and guidelines concerning the conduct of research with human participants:

The Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (the “Common Rule”)

The Belmont Report

HIPAA Privacy Rule

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 21 CFR Regulations

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

New York State’s Article 24-A: Protection of Human Subjects

New York Civil Rights Law Section 79-l: Confidentiality of records of genetic tests