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IRBNet is a web-based research compliance platform that many institutions use to receive, route and review IRB submissions electronically. Your institution configures it, decides which forms and signatures it requires, and tells you whether you need an account. This guide explains what IRBNet is, who typically needs an account, what a submission “package” involves, and how to confirm the rules that apply to you.
What IRBNet is and who runs it
As described on the vendor site (irbnet.org) on 2026-11-07, IRBNet offers “Innovative Solutions for Compliance and Research Management”: a web-based suite of tools to support an IRB, IACUC, IBC, COI and other boards, with electronic submissions, form wizards, agendas and minutes. The site’s copyright notice names Research Dataware, LLC, and the page also carries a WCG logo and privacy-policy link; the page does not spell out how the two relate, so this guide does not either.
The vendor describes the platform as configurable (“Your own forms. Your own processes. Your own standards.”). That matters for researchers: the same software can look and behave differently at two institutions. Treat any single institution’s instructions as an example, not as a universal rule.
Who needs an IRBNet account
Whoever your institution says submits to its review board. Two institutional pages, checked on 2026-11-07, show the pattern:
- UC Davis IRB: Principal Investigators, Co-Principal Investigators and primary contact personnel “MUST create and activate an IRBNet account,” and all applications to the UC Davis IRB must be submitted through IRBNet.
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System research office: investigators and study staff “must obtain an IRBNet Account prior to submitting IRB applications,” and all research study application packages must be submitted in IRBNet. The page states IRBNet can be accessed outside the VA network.
The vendor home page offers a login, “New User Registration” and “Forgot Your Password?” links. Which registration route applies to you, and whether your institution has to approve or link your account, is set locally. Use the instructions from your own IRB office.
What IRBNet supports
The vendor lists IRB, IACUC, IBC and conflict-of-interest (COI) boards, plus “other Boards.” Whether a given institution runs animal-care, biosafety or COI review in IRBNet, or only human-subjects review, depends on that institution. If your project needs more than one review, ask each office which system it uses.
How a submission works: packages, wizards and signatures
UC Davis’s IRB page (checked 2026-11-07) illustrates the typical building blocks. Other institutions will name things differently.
- Complete the required wizard. UC Davis requires the “Initial Review Application” wizard for all new projects (the submission cannot be screened without it) and a “Post Approval Submission Form” wizard for post-approval submissions.
- Sign the package. UC Davis says all signatures must be made with IRBNet’s “Sign this Package” feature, that the PI signs on every project, and that it does not accept signatures made in “Designee Signature” mode. It also lists a Department Chair (or the Dean for the School of Nursing) and, where the PI is a student, medical resident or visiting scholar, a Faculty Advisor.
- Submit and respond. The board reviews the submission; follow-up requests and decisions are then handled according to your institution’s process.
For the underlying application content (what the IRB asks about risks, consent and recruitment), see how to prepare an IRB application, and for changes after approval see how to amend an IRB-approved protocol. IRBNet carries these documents; it does not set the ethical review standard, which rests on frameworks such as the Belmont Report principles.
Typical phases
Without implying any institution’s turnaround time, submissions generally move through: account set-up; training completed as your institution requires; package preparation; signatures; administrative screening; board review; and post-approval submissions such as amendments. UC Davis’s PI attestation states the PI will ensure personnel complete all required human-subjects protections training before research activities begin.
Common mistakes
- Assuming one institution’s rules apply everywhere. Wizards, signers and signature modes are local settings.
- Signing in the wrong mode. At UC Davis, designee-mode signatures are not accepted.
- Submitting outside the system. Both institutions above state that applications go through IRBNet.
- Using the wrong form type. UC Davis assigns separate wizards to new projects and post-approval submissions.
- Leaving account activation until the deadline. UC Davis requires accounts to be created and activated.
What the official pages say, side by side
| Point | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| Who sets forms and workflow | The vendor describes configurable forms and processes; each institution decides (irbnet.org) |
| Boards covered | IRB, IACUC, IBC, COI and others (irbnet.org) |
| Account requirement | Stated as mandatory for submitters at UC Davis and VA GLAHCS |
| Signatures | UC Davis: “Sign this Package” only, no designee mode |
IRBNet is one of several electronic compliance systems. For a wider view of how such platforms differ, see the regulatory compliance software comparison.
FAQ
What is IRBNet?
A web-based compliance and research management platform that institutions use for electronic IRB submissions and review, per the vendor site as of 2026-11-07.
How do I register for IRBNet?
The vendor site has a “New User Registration” link, but your institution’s IRB office controls how it is used. Follow its instructions; the two institutions cited in this guide (UC Davis and VA Greater Los Angeles) require submitters to hold an account.
Is IRBNet only for IRBs?
No. The vendor lists IACUC, IBC and COI boards as well, though each institution chooses what it runs there.
Does IRBNet replace CITI or other training?
No. IRBNet is a submission and review system, not a training course. UC Davis’s PI attestation says personnel must complete all required human-subjects protections training before engaging in research activities; your institution’s IRB office names the training it requires, such as CITI.
How does IRBNet work for VA researchers?
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System states that investigators and study staff must obtain an IRBNet account before submitting IRB applications, that all study application packages are submitted in IRBNet, and that IRBNet can be accessed outside the VA network. Other VA sites and the VA Central IRB publish their own instructions; use those of the office that reviews your study.
Where do I log in?
From the login on the vendor site, irbnet.org, or the link your institution provides.
Sources
- IRBNet vendor site, irbnet.org, checked 2026-11-07.
- UC Davis IRB, IRBNet, checked 2026-11-07.
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, IRBNet guidance, checked 2026-11-07.
Platform settings and institutional rules change; this page reflects the official pages as described on 2026-11-07.
