IRB vs IACUC Compliance Check
Answer a few questions about your research and find out whether you need IRB approval, IACUC approval, both, or neither.
Do I Need IRB or IACUC Approval? Quick Compliance Check
Not every project needs a full checklist to get started — sometimes you just need to know which committee, if any, applies to your research. This is a quick classifier, not a comprehensive review: answer a few questions about human subjects, animal research, and outside collaborators, and get a straightforward read on whether IRB approval, IACUC approval, both, or neither likely applies. No account needed, nothing leaves your browser.
Free Tool
IRB vs IACUC Compliance Check
Answer 5 questions. Find out which approval you need.
A quick classifier, not a full checklist — answer a few questions about your research and find out whether you likely need IRB approval, IACUC approval, both, or neither. Takes under a minute.
5
Questions
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Minutes
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No account required. Your answers stay in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between IRB and IACUC?
IRB (Institutional Review Board) reviews research involving human participants, their data, or biological samples. IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) reviews research involving live vertebrate animals.
Do I need IRB approval to use existing data?
Often yes, unless the data is fully de-identified and you have no way to re-identify participants — but this determination is made by your IRB, not by general rules, since standards vary by institution.
Do I need IACUC approval to use animal tissue?
If the tissue is from animals that were already deceased for reasons unrelated to your study, many institutions don't require IACUC approval — but this should be confirmed, since some institutions still require notification even for tissue-only use.
Can my research need both IRB and IACUC approval?
Yes, particularly in translational research that involves both animal studies and a human clinical component.
How long does IRB or IACUC approval typically take?
Timelines vary significantly by institution and review type (expedited vs. full board) — check your specific IRB/IACUC office for current processing times rather than relying on a general estimate.
Do I need both IRB and IACUC approval for animal models using human tissue (xenografts, humanized mice)?
Often yes. Even if you're not personally performing procedures on humans, using human-derived cells, tissue, or biological material in an animal model can trigger IRB review upstream (covering how the human material was obtained and consented) in addition to IACUC review for the animal work itself. This is one of the more commonly missed dual-approval scenarios — confirm with both offices early, since the IRB portion in particular can take longer than researchers expect.
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