Contact information:
Professor Tina Kao
Email: tkao@citytech.cuny.edu
Updated as of June 1, 2025
The Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) of CUNY provides oversight, administrative support, and educational training to ensure that all human research performed by members of CUNY comply with university, state and federal regulations.
An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee composed of scientists, nonscientists, and community members. This committee ensures that the rights and welfare of all those participating in human subjects research are protected at the highest ethical standards. At CUNY, the HRPP is one branch of the IRB, and operates with authority to review, approve, or disapprove, all activities associated with human research. City Tech is dedicated to fulfilling the mandate of CUNY’s HRPP for human research protection.
Submitting a new IRB application
Log onto IRBManager using your CUNYfirst credentials, and refer to the video(s) below:
If you are the principal investigator and creating a new IRB application: Creating New Submissions.
If you are a student creating a new IRB application: Instructions for Students.
If you are a faculty advisor of a student that has submitted a new IRB application for you to review: Instructions for Faculty Advisors.
Submitting an amendment, continuing review, events report, or final report for already approved IRB protocols
Log onto IRBManager and refer to the video(s) below:
Creating Amendments for already approved IRB protocols.
Creating Continuing Reviews, Events Reportings, and Final Reports for already approved IRB protocols.
Copying an already approved IRB protocol to help with creating a new IRB application
Log onto IRBManager and refer to the video(s) below:
Copying already approved IRB protocols for new submissions
Creating a new IRB application on behalf of someone else
Log onto IRBManager and refer to the video(s) below:
A new IRB application requires mandatory training in research ethics and compliance prior to submission
The CITI Program (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) is used by CUNY to meet educational requirements for research compliance. All research personnel must complete the relevant CITI course(s) that apply to the scope of the proposed research. To get started, visit here. For guidance on selecting the appropriate course(s), please refer to the following webpage on CITI Training requirements.
Creating a new IRB application that requires providing consent forms for recruitment of human participants
If your IRB application involves obtaining consent from human participants, you must prepare a consent form using one of CUNY’s official templates. There are two templates available – a simplified consent form and a comprehensive consent form. Depending on the nature and complexity of the human research study of your IRB application, choose the appropriate template and edit the template to reflect the specific details of the proposed research of your IRB application. Upon completion of your consent form, upload it as part of your IRB application, under the “Attachments” section.
FAQ’s
Who should submit an IRB application for review?
Any researcher (e.g., faculty, administration, staff and students) planning to implement any research involving human participants. Note that student researchers need to have a faculty advisor approve of their IRB application before submitting.
What exactly is “human subjects research”?
According to 45 CFR 46, a human subject is “a living individual about whom an investigator (whether professional or student) conducting research”. This can be research that proposes to obtain information, or biospecimens, through intervention or interaction with the individual(s), and use, study, or analyze the information or biospecimens; or research that proposes to obtain, use, study or analyze identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens.
For further information on human subjects research, refer here.
How do I know if my IRB application will be determined as exempt, expedited, or convened?
Upon review of your IRB application, the HRPP coordinator will make the initial determination of your application. Note that the determination of “exempt” does not mean that your proposed human subjects research can bypass the IRB submission/review process, but rather, that your proposed research is generally one of minimal risk with no personal identifiers of the human participants.
IRB applications determined as exempt during review.
IRB applications determined as expedited during review.
IRB applications determined as convened during review.
I am adjunct faculty, who do I contact about submitting a new IRB application?
Contact the campus HRPP coordinator, Tina Kao at tkao@citytech.cuny.edu .
What do continuing reviews, annual check-ins, closures by PI, administrative closures by HRPP, of my approved IRB protocols mean?
Administrative closure by HRPP
What if I am a researcher who is neither affiliated with New York City College of Technology, nor collaborating with any affiliates of New York City College of Technology, but I wish to recruit participants, or to conduct my research at New York City College of Technology?
Contact the campus HRPP coordinator, Tina Kao (tkao@citytech.cuny.edu).
Other Relevant Links
Responsible Conduct of Research
Research and Sponsored Projects Agreements
Sponsored Research and Projects
Additional information including policies, definitions, and guidance related to research compliance at CUNY can be found here.