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1.19 IRB Signature Authority

Last Revised: 2/18/2026

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to describe the Organization’s requirements for granting signature authority for Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) and IRB correspondence.

2.0 Policy

It is the policy of the Organization that the Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Regulatory Affairs, the Assistant Director of the ORA, the IRB Executive Chair, the IRB Chairs and Vice-Chairs, expedited reviewers and qualified IRB Analysts and staff will have appropriate signature authority on behalf of the ORA and the IRB.

3.0 Authorities

The following individuals have signature authority as indicated below:

  • 3.1. Assistant Vice Chancellor for Regulatory Affairs (AVCRA) has the authority to sign (1) HRPP policies in conjunction with the Institutional Official (IO), (2) IRB Reliance agreements (with subsequent notification of the IO), (3) Collaborating individual or institutional investigator agreements (with subsequent notification of the IO), (4) IRB review letters, (5) IRB approval letters, and (6) all other IRB correspondence as necessary.
  • 3.2. The Assistant Director of the Office of Regulatory Affairs has the authority to sign (1) HRPP policies in conjunction with the Institutional Official (IO), (2) IRB Reliance agreements (with subsequent notification of the IO), (3) Collaborating individual or institutional investigator agreements (with subsequent notification of the IO), (4) IRB review letters, (5) IRB approval letters, and (6) all other IRB correspondence as necessary.
  • 3.3. The Executive IRB Chair has the authority to sign (1) IRB review letters, (2) IRB approval letters, and (3) all other IRB correspondence as necessary.
  • 3.4. IRB Chairs and Vice-Chairs have the authority to sign (1) IRB review letters, (2) IRB approval letters, and (3) all other IRB correspondence as necessary.
  • 3.5. IRB Expedited Reviewers (including IRB Analysts who are also IRB members) have the authority to sign (1) IRB expedited review letters, (2) IRB expedited approval letters and (3) other related IRB correspondence as necessary.
  • 3.6. IRB Analysts have the authority to sign (1) IRB review letters, (2) IRB approval letters, and (3) other IRB correspondence as necessary.
    • 3.6.1. In exercising this authority, the IRB Analysts will consult the IRB Executive Chair, chairs and vice-chairs or other IRB members as necessary and may refer IRB review letters or other correspondence to the IRB Executive Chair for signature.
  • 3.7. IRB Associates have the authority to sign routine ORA correspondence, but not correspondence on behalf of the IRB (such as IRB review letters).

DOCUMENT HISTORY:

 Written: 12/28/2015 (Approved: 12/28/2015) - original author not recorded

 Revised: 1/2/2018 - revision not documented

 Revised: 10/7/2022 – clarified that Exec Chair can sign authorization agreements after review and approval by the IO; stylistic changes; correct typos; rename Office Assistant as IRB Associate.

 Revised 2/18/2026 – Added signature authority for Assistant Director of the ORA (section 3.2); added signature authority for Collaborating individual or institutional investigator agreements (sections 3.1 and 3.2); separated roles of Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Regulatory Affairs (section 3.1) and IRB Executive Chair (section 3.3), and assigned signature authority as appropriate; clarified that expedited reviewers may sign expedited approval letters (section 3.5); stylistic changes.

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