IRB Staff Directory
The staff directory is structured by research type (biomedical and social-behavioral) as well as level of IRB review and submission types. Please contact the appropriate staff member below based on this outline. Please generally allow at least 3 business days for an email response before escalating your inquiry. If you require faster assistance, please call the IRB mainline at 215-573-2540.
Please note that the IRB does not have time nor resources to provide 1-on-1 walkthroughs of the online submission system. If you need this type of assistance, please sign up for an IRB 101 session. If there is not an upcoming IRB 101 session, please sign up for Thursday office hours.
Once your study has been assigned to a staff member for review, please stay in contact with that person if they reach out to you about your study. It is routine for the IRB to return your application for revisions at least once during the review process.
General Help Desks
Not sure who to contact? Consider utilizing one of our help desks. Our help desks are managed by multiple staff members with relevant knowledge. You may receive a response directly from the helpdesk or from another IRB staff member who received your forwarded message.
General Questions
For general IRB inquiries, including questions about IRB review considerations, status of review progress, Not Human Subjects’ Research Determinations, or other general concerns, contact the IRB PO Box. This box is managed by IRB Administrators and Analysts.
Technical Issues
Contact the HSERA Help Desk about technical issues with the online HSERA submission system. The HSERA help desk can also assist with giving research personnel access to HSERA, changing department chair approvers, etc.
CITI Training Questions
If you have questions about CITI training curriculum or issues obtaining or documenting your CITI training, please contact the CITI Training Help Desk.
Concerns & Suggestions
If you are a member of Penn’s research community and you have a concern regarding the conduct of research, such as the execution of a protocol or safety of participants, you may submit your concern via the link below. You may also use this form to make suggestions to the IRB or report any issues with the ethics review process.
Biomedical Research Team
If you are working on getting approval for a new biomedical study, the following staff can help with questions about application requirements and responding to issues raised.
Greater than Minimal Risk Research
For biomedical research reviewed by the convened board, please contact the staff below. Please contact the staff of the board that reviewed your study. You can find this information on your IRB approval letters. If you have questions about minimal risk research please scroll down for the appropriate contacts.
Minimal Risk Research (Exempt and Expedited Research)
For biomedical research reviewed at the expedited or exempt level, please contact the staff below.
Social-Behavioral Research Team
The following analysts can help with questions about application requirements and responding to issues raised for social-behavioral research.
Reliance and Single IRB (sIRB) Reviews
The following staff can help with questions about reliance and single IRB reviews.
Administrative Support Team
Directors