IRB Reliance: What Is It?

September 18, 2024

Michigan State University (MSU) faculty, staff, students, and agents conducting human research activities on behalf of MSU are required to obtain MSU Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, an MSU IRB exempt determination, or an MSU Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) IRB reliance acknowledgement.

IRB reliance allows an institution to “rely” upon another institution for IRB review of non-exempt human subject research. IRB reliance may be required for some kinds of collaborative research (e.g. non-exempt research funded by a federal department or agency) or may be requested even if IRB reliance isn’t required. At MSU, there is a process to request IRB reliance.

External IRB Requests (Requests for IRB Reliance)

For MSU researchers who wish to rely upon an external (non-MSU) IRB, an external IRB request must first be submitted in the online MSU Click™ Research Compliance system. The external IRB request must be completed and acknowledged by the MSU HRPP before MSU researchers begin their research with human participants. See HRPP Manual 8-11, External IRB Submissions, for more information about this process.

Discussion with MSU HRPP

Researchers can also contact the MSU HRPP before submitting an external IRB request to discuss IRB reliance. We highly recommend that researchers contact the MSU HRPP early and as soon as possible, as the decision of which IRB should serve as IRB of record may require discussions between institutions. For questions or to discuss, please email: orrs.irbreliance@msu.edu

Exempt Research and Reliance

MSU does not enter into reliance agreements for exempt research. For employees, students or agents of MSU who will be collaborating with external (non-MSU) investigators in exempt research, MSU will need to make its own exempt determination. A new study submission will need to be created in Click for review and determination before MSU researchers begin their research with human participants.

Henry Ford Health + MSU Health Sciences Partnership

To facilitate the Henry Ford Health (HFH) + MSU Health Sciences (HS) partnership, there is a separate process when the research involves collaborations with Henry Ford Health. Note that for federal grants that involve human participants submitted through the HFH+MSU HS where MSU is determined engaged, an MSU IRB approval, an MSU IRB exempt determination, or an MSU HRPP IRB reliance acknowledgement would be required. For more information, visit https://hrpp.msu.edu/help/hfh-msu-irb.html

Resources

Please review the Reliance FAQs for more information: https://hrpp.msu.edu/help/reliance/reliance-faqs.html

For IRB reliance questions or to discuss, please email: orrs.irbreliance@msu.edu