Contact Us

There are many ways to communicate with the HRPP/IRB office. Regardless of the method you choose, the IRB encourages you to reach out and is committed to providing the research community with excellent customer service. 

General Questions About IRB Policy
Email the IRB inbox at irb@umn.edu. This allows our staff to triage your inquiry to the staff member/s most able to address it. 

Determining Whether a Submission Requires IRB Review
Submit a determination form via ETHOS for a formal review and documentation of the determination. The IRB never provides these determinations over the phone or via email.

General Guidance About Submission Requirements or ETHOS Navigation Prior to Submitting in ETHOS
Use Request a Consultation to schedule time with an IRB staff member via Zoom. This allows screen sharing and a more detailed, specific discussion about your needs. This service is often used by those new to the University or first time submitters. It is not recommended for questions related to submissions currently under review.

Status Update or Question About a Submission Under Review
Post a comment in the ETHOS submission and select “notify IRB coordinator.” This ensures that your request/question and the IRB’s response are transparent to all on the study. Selecting “notify IRB coordinator” is very important as it alerts the staff member assigned to your submission that a comment has been posted. 

Urgent Question or Need to Connect with an IRB Staff Member
Call the IRB office at (612) 626-5654. This number is assigned to an online phone app, and will be answered during typical business hours. You are also encouraged to call this number if you have tried one of the other methods above and have not received a response. 

Feedback About the IRB Process or Staff
There are several mechanisms for sharing feedback about the IRB with the HRPP. Feedback specific to the Toolkit can be shared via the HRPP Toolkit Feedback Form. Feedback about your experience working with an HRPP staff member or team can be submitted via the brief satisfaction survey link found in ETHOS approval letters and staff email signature blocks. 

Concerns or Complaints Regarding the Conduct of an IRB-Approved Study
If you have concerns or complaints regarding the conduct of an IRB-approved study or potential ethical violations, mechanisms for reporting such concerns are detailed on the Questions & Concerns page of the HRPP website.  

Report an Issue, Concern, or Complaint

To report an issue, concern, or complaint about the conduct of research involving human participants at the University of Minnesota or Fairview Health Services, see the Human Research Protection Program's Questions & Concerns information.