The Sutter Health Institutional Review Board operates under the policies and procedures that conform to federal and state laws and regulations. SHIRB has the institutional authority to approve, modify or disapprove research. Unless specifically exempted by the Institutional Review Board from further review, every research project involving humans must be SHIRB-approved prior to initiation and reapproved at least once a year (or more often, as determined by the IRB). SHIRB’s primary responsibility is the protection of human subjects from undue risk and from deprivation of personal rights and dignity.

SHIRB is currently comprised of two panels, each of which meets monthly and shares equal authority and responsibility for reviewing research in any area or specialty. SHIRB operates in compliance with relevant state and federal regulations (including 45 CFR 46 and 21 CFR 50 and 56) and with the Federalwide Assurances of the Sutter Health affiliates. Each SHIRB panel is registered with the Office of Human Research Protection: registration #00009826 and #00009827. SHIRB also serves as the Privacy Board for Sutter Health and its affiliates.

Please review the current IRB deadlines and meeting dates:
Panel #1 Meeting Dates | PDF
Panel #2 Meeting Dates | PDF

Required: Sutter Health Research Institute administrative review prior to IRB submission

In accordance with Sutter Health policy, any research project involving Sutter Health and its affiliated entities must be reviewed and cleared for IRB review by one of the Sutter Health Research Institutes prior to entry into the SHIRB electronic submission system and submission to the IRB. The purpose of this review is to determine the level of administration and oversight required to ensure that Sutter Health meets its federal, state, local and institutional obligations and that a source of funding for the IRB review is identified (see fee schedule below). SHIRB will not consider an application complete—and will not initiate IRB review—without the appropriate sign-off from the applicable research institute.

Prior to submitting to SHIRB, please contact the applicable research institute for information about pre-IRB requirements. To determine the applicable requirements and contact information for your project, contact the relevant Sutter-affiliated research institute:

• California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute
• The Jordan Research and Education Institute
• Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute
• Sutter Institute for Medical Research

Required: IRB Training

Sutter Health has standardized the training required to conduct human subject research, which is based upon the type of research being conducted (e.g., data only, or active interventions or consenting of subjects). New investigators will need to complete training via the CITI web-based tool. Established investigators will require updated training every three years. Please contact your regional research institute for additional information.

How to submit to SHIRB: IRBNet

SHIRB uses a web-based, electronic protocol management and online submission system called IRBNet. All submissions (e.g., new studies, progress reports, modifications) to the IRB are made electronically through the IRBNet system. In addition, all necessary IRB documents—including IRB application forms and instructions, review fees, rosters and meeting schedules, IRB policies and procedures, and other such information—are accessible through IRBNet.

To learn how to register on IRBNet, access further IRBNet instructions and IRB forms, and prepare your IRB application, please review the IRBNet Information Sheet (PDF).

Fee schedule for SHIRB review

For the current SHIRB fee schedule, review the fee schedule (PDF).