Protocol applications must be submitted through IRBNet.org. IRBNet is secure, web-based, easy to use, and accessible from virtually any computer.

The IRB recommends submitting applications at least six weeks in advance of the anticipated research start date. The IRB receives a high volume of applications, and most need adjustments before they are considered review-ready. Please plan accordingly. Applications requiring full board review must be submitted at least four weeks in advance of the meeting date. The IRB committee meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month (except when the date falls on a break scheduled on the academic calendar). Exempt and expedited applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Research with human subjects may not be conducted without the advance approval of the IRB.

Submitting a New Protocol via IRBNet:

  1. Log in to irbnet.org. If you have not used the system before, you'll first need to register for an account as a new user. Under Research Institution, please select "Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.”
  2. Click "Create New Project" in the menu on the left-side of your screen.
    2. Fill in the required information for your study.
    3. Note: When indicating the Principal Investigator (PI), please review the Policy: Human Subjects Research Principal Investigator. Graduate and undergraduate students are not permitted to serve as PI; students must list their primary faculty advisor as PI.
    4. Click “Continue.”
  3. You are now in the “Designer” window. Here, you can download forms as well as upload documents for IRB review. You can always navigate to the Designer by selecting it from the menu on left-side of your screen:
  4. To access the Human Subjects Application form, select the “HUMAN SUBJECTS APPLICATION (New Studies)” from the “Select a Document” dropdown menu. Click "Download" to save the application to your local computer.
    1. Note: the application and all other forms can also be found under "Forms and Templates" in the left-side menu.
  5. Once you have completed the application form in full, click "Attach New Document" to upload the completed application form to your submission package. Repeat to add all necessary supplemental documents (e.g. consent form(s), CITI training completion certificates for all personnel listed in the protocol, recruitment materials, survey/interview documents, etc.)
  6. As of April 27, 2026, only PIs are required to sign the package, and all other personnel are no longer required to sign the IRBNet submission.  PIs may add other personnel and request for them to sign the package at their discretion:
    Each IRB protocol must be shared with the PI. Only faculty eligible to serve as Principal Investigator may serve as PI. The protocol may be shared with other users at the discretion of the PI. For example, the PI may wish to share a IRBNet protocol with faculty collaborators or with students who are completing thesis projects or dissertations. Click "Share this Project" in the left-side menu to share the protocol with other users. Sharing the project allows these individuals to review all materials and to digitally sign the submission if applicable.
    1. Note: if your project involves collaboration with academic visitors to Lehigh's campus, you will need to comply with the Collaborating Visitors Policy.
  7. The PI must click "Sign this Package" in the left-side menu to indicate all necessary application materials have been uploaded to the IRBNet package. Other personnel with whom the project has been shared may also sign if the PI desires. 
  8. Once the PI has signed the package in IRBNet, click "Submit this Package". Select "Lehigh University IRB" as the reviewing board. Once the package has been submitted, the Office of Research Integrity will conduct a pre-review of your submission materials and notify you if any changes or additional information is necessary prior to IRB review. 

Tutorial: New User Registration - registering for IRBNet and affiliating with Lehigh; managing training and credentials.
Tutorial: New Project Submission - designing, sharing, signing, submitting new projects. Managing approval documents and automatic expiration alerts.