Reliance MOU for IRB Review of Multi-Campus Human Subject Research

The Memorandum of Understanding for IRB Review of Multi-Campus Human Subject Research (PDF) establishes a reliance agreement among the Human Research Protection Programs (HRPP) and Institutional Review Boards (IRB) at the ten campuses of the University of California, the UC Division of Agriculture Natural Resources (ANR), and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The MOU allows an IRB at any of the UC campuses to rely upon the review and approval, or determination of exemption, of human subject research by an IRB at another UC campus. Additionally, the accompanying Procedures to Implement the Reliance Memorandum of Understanding (PDF) set out procedures to implement the Reliance MOU. 

Note: The former systemwide IRB Reliance Registry was retired on July 1, 2024. However, the reliance MOU remains in effect and campuses retain flexibility to facilitate and document reliances.

Transfer of IRB Oversight

The Human Research Protection Program Directors at the ten UC campuses, the Division of Agriculture Natural Resources, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have agreed that there may be instances when it is necessary to transfer IRB review responsibility from one UC location  to another, on a temporary or permanent basis. In June 2020, an MOU was implemented that describes how this transfer process works (PDF).

Important Links

• • Memorandum of Understanding for IRB Review of Multi-Campus Human Subject Research at the University of Calfornia (PDF)
  • Procedures to Implement the Reliance Memorandum of Understanding (PDF)