The UMass Lowell Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee that meets monthly comprised of scientists, non-scientists and members of the Lowell community. It serves as the IRB of record for all research involving human subjects conducted by or involving any UMass faculty, staff and students regardless of funding.

Silhouette of man's head with words integrity, values, ethics, respect around it Image by Tryfonov

Research studies must be reviewed and approved by the IRB before any study procedures begin, including recruitment or gathering of data if:

  • you plan to conduct research, which is defined by DHHS 45 CFR 46 as being a “systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, that is designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge”, and
  • it involves human subjects who are defined as “a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research:
    • Obtains information or biospecimens through intervention or interaction with the individual, and, uses studies, or analyzes the information or biospecimens; or
    • Obtains, uses, studies, analyzes, or generates identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens.

The IRB serves as a resource for faculty, staff and students for all research involving human subjects at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

As a member of SMART IRB, UMass Lowell can use, track and document reliance arrangements on a study-by-study basis.

Detailed instructions on how to submit a research study to the IRB can be found in the HRP-910 - Investigator Manual (docx).

Additional help is always available at the IRB Office by phone at 978-934-4134 or email: IRB@uml.edu.

We look forward to assisting you!

Federalwide Assurance Information

Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) #: 00000215
Expiration Date: April 25, 2028
IORG #: 0000499
IRB Registration #: 00000821

IRB Meeting Schedule

  • March 11, 2024
  • April 8, 2024
  • May 13, 2024
  • June 10, 2024
  • August 12, 2024

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Subscribe to the IRB listserv and stay updated regarding regulation changes and changes to the IRB forms, policies and procedures.

Learn more about IRB Training.