NIH Policy on Single IRB

January 10, 2018

The Final NIH Policy on Use of a Single IRB for Multi-Site Research establishes the expectation that all domestic sites participating in multi-site studies involving non-exempt human subjects research funded by NIH will use a single Institutional Review Board (sIRB).

This policy applies to:

• NIH-funded
• Non-exempt human subject research
• Multi-site where each site will conduct the same protocol
• Domestic sites
• Supported through grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or NIH intramural Research Program
• Does not apply to career development, research training, or fellowship awards

This policy applies to all competing grant applications (new, renewal, revision, or resubmission) with receipt dates on or after January 25, 2018.  Ongoing, non-competing awards will not be expected to comply with this policy until the grantee submits a competing renewal application.  For contracts, the policy applies to all solicitations issued on or after January 25, 2018.