2025-2026 Winter Closure

The IRB & SCRO offices will be closed during Stanford’s Winter Closure from Monday, December 22, 2025, through Friday, January 2, 2026, and will resume operations on Monday, January 5, 2026. View Submission Deadline information for IRB/SCRO review prior to the upcoming Winter Closure.

Stanford IRB • SCRO • APLAC
IRB • SCRO Institutional Review Board IRB • SCRO • APLAC
IRB • SCRO • APLAC

Human & Animal Research Compliance Office

main quad, tower

What is the IRB's Mission?

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee that reviews and monitors research involving human subjects to ensure compliance with federal regulations, state laws, local policies, and established ethical principles to protect the rights, safety and well-being of individuals participating in research studies.

The Stanford IRB

The Stanford Institutional Review Board (IRB) consists of 7 Medical Panels and 1 Non-Medical Panel. Research involving Stanford Medical School personnel is reviewed by one of the Medical IRB Panels with some exceptions.  The Non-Medical IRB Panel reviews research conducted by faculty and students from the schools of Sustainability, Business, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, and Law. 

doctor's office, man

Information for Medical Researchers

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Information for Non-Medical Researchers

BY THE NUMBERS

Number of Active IRB Protocols

11,797

Average Number of Days for Turnaround of New Protocols

42

Percent of Overall Satisfaction with IRB Staff

90%

Number of New Protocols Approved in the Most Recent Quarter

535

Members of Academic Council on the IRB Panels

47

                                      See All IRB Turnaround Times and Satisfaction Survey Results Here

Upcoming Events

See all events

Who We Are 

The Human & Animal Research Compliance Office is responsible for oversight and management of Stanford’s Administrative Compliance Panels: Institutional Review Board (IRB), Stem Cell Research Oversight (SCRO), and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and ensures compliance with applicable policies, accreditation standards and external regulations. Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) is responsible for the Biosafety and Radiological Safety Panels. The Administrative Panels report to the President through the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research (VPDoR).

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Institutional Animal Care &
Use Committee (IACUC)

test tubes

Environmental Health &
Safety (EH&S)

dna

Stem Cell Research Oversight
(SCRO) Committee

main quad, hoover

Office of the Vice Provost and
Dean of Research (VPDoR)