Introducing the Office of the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)
The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Office of Research is pleased to announce that the Office of the IRB has been renamed the Office of the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP).
This change reflects UAB’s commitment to supporting safe, ethical, and compliant research. Since 2007, UAB has maintained accreditation by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP), an independent, nonprofit organization that sets rigorous standards for quality and participant protection.
The Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) remain a vital component of the HRPP. However, this new name recognizes the broader scope of responsibilities that extend beyond IRB review to ensure the protection of human research participants.
“As research has grown in complexity, so too has the need for a more integrated approach,” says Adam McClintock, Executive Director of the HRPP. “The term HRPP reflects our coordination of IRB review with other essential compliance partners, including financial conflicts of interest, sponsored programs, research safety committees, and investigational drug services. Moreover, the timing is ideal, in preparation for implementation of the MyUABResearch IRB module and refreshed policy and procedure with the Huron HRPP toolkit.”
The Office of the HRPP will continue to support the work of the IRBs while advancing process improvements, ensuring compliance, and providing guidance that benefits the entire UAB research community.
Volunteers Needed for User Testing
UAB is piloting a new AI IRB Document Review Tool designed to help investigators identify common issues in their IRB applications before submission. The tool operates within a closed, UAB controlled environment, ensuring that all uploaded files remain secure and do not leave the UAB environment. The user acceptance testing phase has begun, and volunteers are invited to try the tool and provide feedback.
How to Participate
- Prepare your Documents once the ePortfolio is complete, including all attachments (e.g. informed consent forms).
- Open your study’s ePortfolio in IRAP.
- Click the “Preview” button (top right corner).
- Print to PDF and save the file (this will print the application and all attachments).
- Open your Personnel eForm.
- Click the “Preview” button (top right corner).
- Print to PDF and save the file.
- Open your study’s ePortfolio in IRAP.
- Access the Tool here.
- Upload Your Materials
- Drag and drop the PDFs into the upload box or click Browse to select files.
- Click “Analyze Documents.”
- Provide Feedback after testing. Please complete the short end user survey: AI IRB Document Review Tool - End User Survey
Researchers interested in participating are encouraged to follow the instructions above and provide feedback via the survey. This testing phase will help refine the tool before a wider rollout and supports ongoing efforts to streamline IRB submission processes.
For any questions, please contact the Human Research Protection Program at
Last Modified: 6/30/2025
The purpose of the HRPP Liaison Working Group is to establish a structured, bi-directional feedback system between the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) and the schools and colleges within UAB. This system aims to enhance communication, streamline processes, and ensure timely and efficient improvements in the human research protection program. The group will focus on operationalizing high-level strategic initiatives and operational improvements both within the HRPP and the research units in the schools and the college. As necessary, the liaison working group will collaborate in real time to solve protocol specific issues.
Executive Sponsor: Christopher S. Brown, PhD, Vice President for Research
Official Charter: HRPP Liaison Working Group Charter (PDF)
Objectives
Enhance Communication
- Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of feedback between the schools/college and the HRPP.
- Promptly address and resolve issues related to HRPP submissions and review processes specific to a particular school/college.
- Enhance knowledge sharing and problem-solving for review processes that are common across the schools.
- Address protocol specific issues as they arise to facilitate timely review and approval.
Develop a Feedback System
- Create a system of regular touchpoints, such as monthly meetings, between the HRPP liaison and the school/college liaisons.
- Ensure a regular bidirectional feedback loop to facilitate timely and efficient process improvements and optimize the overall review process.
Facilitate Process Improvements
- Identify and implement strategies to streamline HRPP processes, enhance the overall efficiency of the review system, and promote operational excellence both in the HRPP and academic units.
Membership
A single liaison from each school and college which conducts human subjects research requiring HRPP protocols will be nominated by the respective Dean and confirmed by the Vice President for Research. The liaisons selected have sufficient working experience and routine interactions with the HRPP, such as completing and submitting applications, responding to HRPP queries, managing protocol amendments, and ensuring compliance with HRPP requirements, and have sufficient authority and standing to meet the objectives and responsibilities noted here. Additional members will be included as needed, such as representatives from the Faculty Senate and the Office of Research.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary liaison between the respective school/college and the HRPP. The liaison is expected to maintain regular contact with the HRPP liaison, in addition to study teams submitting HRPP protocols, facilitating training opportunities and ensuring quality control and scientific review for the school/college.
- Attend regular meetings and provide feedback on HRPP processes and submissions.
- Communicate updates and changes from the HRPP to their respective academic units.
- Coordinate and facilitate regular meetings with the school/college liaisons.
- Collect and disseminate feedback from the schools/college to the HRPP.
- Facilitate process improvements based on the feedback received.
- Work with the school/college liaisons as quality control and scientific review issues are identified on protocols.
Additional Information
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Where do I go to learn more about and find resources on the HRPP Application Process?
The Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) has launched a new Guidebook and Decision Support Tools to support researchers submitting clear, well-prepared applications. These resources are designed to simplify the process, minimize uncertainty, and equip the research community with the essential knowledge for successful submissions.
Whether you are an experienced researcher or new to the HRPP process, these tools offer step-by-step guidance, best practices, and decision-making support to ensure compliance and efficiency. By utilizing them, researchers can avoid common mistakes and confidently submit their applications.
Explore the tools here: UAB HRPP Training & Resources. Navigate to the "Before You Submit" section to find the Guidebook and Decision Support Tools
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How do I submit an initial application to the HRPP Office?
Initial applications are submitted electronically to the HRPP Office via IRAP at irap.uab.edu. If UAB HRPP will be the relying IRB, the IRB ePortfolio must be completed and submitted for review. Please visit the following link to view step-by-step instructions.
If an external IRB will be the relying IRB, the Institution Review Form Relying on Outside HRPP Form and other supporting documents must be completed and submitted for review. Please visit the following link for more information.
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What is the status of my application? How can i look up the status of my application?
You may locate your status via IRAP. View the Master Record of your protocol, click on the Submissions Tab, and view the information in the determination column on the Submissions Page. You may contact the Human Research Protection Program via email at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via phone at 205-934-3789. -
Who is my reviewer?
You can locate the name of your reviewer via IRAP. View the Master Record of your protocol, click on the Submissions Tab, click on the submission in blue, and click on the word “Reviews”. You may also contact the HRPP Office via email at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via phone at 205-934-3789. -
I am new to UAB. How do I transfer data from my prior institution to UAB?
The Principal Investigator (PI) will have to submit initial applications for each protocol that he/she wants to transfer to UAB.
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How do I get delegate access?
The Principal Investigator (PI) must grant delegate access in IRAP. For more information on confirming and/or changing the delegate access, please visit the Enable Portal FAQs website and review the step-by-step tutorial on “How do I Assign or update my Delegates?”
If all the procedures have been completed in the tutorial and the problem persists, please contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. -
How do I get access to required HRPP training?
Please view the instructions below. Please note that UAB HRPP must have a record of an initial course on file before a refresher course may be accepted.
How to Access CITI Initial Courses for Initial Training
To complete, the CITI Initial IRB Training, please complete the steps below: CITI Training
- When you have arrived at the CITI website, type University of Alabama, Birmingham in the box and click the blue button “Continue to SSO/Login”. You will be prompted to enter your Blazer ID and password.
- Once signed in, scroll down to the bottom and select Add a Course.
- For Question 1, select Yes then the next button.
- From the list provided, check IRB Training – Biomedical or IRB Training – Social and Behavioral.
- Select next and begin the course.
How to Access CITI Good Clinical Practices Initial and/or Refresher Training
The GCP CITI Initial and/or Refresher course can be found on the CITI website using the following link below: CITI Training
- When you have arrived at the CITI website, type University of Alabama, Birmingham in the box and click the blue button “Continue to SSO/Login”. You will be prompted to enter your Blazer ID and password.
- Once signed in, scroll down to the bottom and select Add a Course.
- For Question 1, select Yes then the next button.
- From the list provided, if you need initial GCP check CITI Good Clinical Practices.
- If you have already taken an initial GCP course, check the box for Good Clinical Practices (GCP) Refresher Course.
- Select next and begin the course.
How to Access Financial Conflict of Interest Training Courses
To complete the Initial Financial Conflict of Interest Training, please visit FCOI Training
- Then, click the box, Campus Learning System.
- Sign in with your Blazer ID and password when prompted.
- After signing in, go to the search box and type Financial Conflict of Interest.
- Enroll in the course and begin the course.
12,1682020 Submissions & Continuations4,692 Active Protocols49Committee Meetings3 Number of Committees
University policy requires that all research involving human subjects be reviewed and approved by the UAB IRB before the research begins. This requirement applies to all human subjects research conducted by faculty, staff, and students, on- and off-campus, regardless of funding. Research involving human subjects includes the collection of data about or from human subjects and the use of existing data or specimens. Any changes to an IRB-approved project must be reviewed and approved by the IRB before they can be implemented. Continuing review is also required at regular intervals for protocols reviewed by the convened IRB and through expedited procedures.