Cayuse IRB
USD uses an IRB application platform called Cayuse Human Ethics (known as “Cayuse IRB” accessible through the MySanDiego portal).
If this is your first time submitting an IRB application at USD, please fill out this Form using your USD email address.
Faculty members may submit their class list to the same Form to request Cayuse access for their students. Please include the students' full names and USD email addresses. Allow up to 1 week for the IRB to complete Cayuse account set up.
All first-time researchers will receive an email with instructions on how to access Cayuse. This email contains important information on how to create, complete, submit and certify IRB applications. All researchers are highly encouraged to use the attached videos as guides while filling out their IRB application in Cayuse. Researchers may also refer to these slides when accessing Cayuse for the first time.
If there are still questions after viewing the video resources, the researcher may reach out to irb@sandiego.edu for additional assistance.
Important Note
Before submitting an application for review, students must consult with their faculty advisor. The preparation of an IRB application is a collaborative process between the researcher, faculty advisor (if the researcher is a student), and the IRB representative for your School or College.
Prior to Applying
Step 1: Determine if IRB review is required
- All faculty, students and administrators conducting research with human participants must submit their research proposals to the University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) for review and approval.
- To determine if a study is research or if the involved subjects are human subjects (defined in 45 CFR 46.102), view the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) video: What Is Research and What Isn't?
Step 2: Complete human subjects research training
- All research team members listed on the IRB application must complete human subjects' research protection training
- See our human subjects training page for instructions.
Step 3: Determine level of review
- There are four categories of review for IRB applications at USD. The risk level and types of research procedures determine which level of review is required.
Understand the IRB review process and your responsibilities
- Investigator Responsibilities:
- Obtain IRB approval before beginning any participant related activities.
- Obtain IRB approval for modifications to previously approved research.
- Obtain IRB approval for continuation of project activities annually, or per IRB instructions (some studies will require review more frequently than annually).
- Submit post-approval reports of events that are unanticipated problems that may adversely affect the safety of participants or the conduct of the research, and any information relevant to the conduct of the approved research.
- Submit a closure application when the project is complete.