IRB Fees

Rutgers fees for when the PI is unaffiliated with Rutgers and/or when the study has external funding (e.g., Corporate, Industry, Professional Organization, etc.).

Please note: Rutgers IRB will invoice IRB Review fees to the PI when the research study is approved.

An IRB review fee will be applicable in any of the following situations:

• When a Rutgers PI requests Rutgers IRB to serve as the IRB of Record on a funded research study for an external site or institution engaged in human subject research applicable to the NIH Single IRB mandate and/or applicable to the Revised Common Rule (under Cooperative Research).
• When a Rutgers PI requests an external site or institution to serve as the IRB of Record for collaborative research on a funded research study.

If these situations are applicable, then an IRB Review fee will be invoiced in eIRB to the Rutgers PI. Please see the Single IRB fee schedule below. If you have any questions regarding collaborative research, please contact the IRB Reliance Team.

An IRB review fee will be applicable in any of the following situations:

• When a Rutgers PI requests a review from a commercial IRB such as WCG IRB, Advarra, BRANY and has a project that is industry sponsored.

Please refer to the 'Commercial IRB Fees' section for WCG IRB, Advarra, and BRANY IRB fee schedules.

Advarra IRB Fee Schedule (NET ID Required)

BRANY Single Site IRB Fee Schedule (NET ID Required)

BRANY Multisite IRB Fee Schedule (NET ID Required)

WCG (WIRB) IRB Fee Schedule (NET ID Required)

• NIH’s Single IRB for Multi-Site or Cooperative Research
• Final NIH policy on the 'Use of a Single Institutional Review Board for Multi-site Research'
• Revised Common Rule 45 CFR 46.114 - Cooperative Research

What does the IRB Fee cover?

IRB fees for human subject research cover the real cost associated with protocol review by the IRB and oversight of the research study.

When will the PI be charged?

Individual investigators will be charged after IRB review is completed and the approval is provided.

What happens if the contract is not approved?

If the IRB review has already taken place, the investigator or the institute will still be charged.

How are investigators expected to cover the extra costs of these charges?

Investigators should list the expense for IRB review as a budget line item as part of the startup costs.

What are IRB fees and how do they affect industry sponsors?

Most industry sponsors are aware of IRB fees and have included funds for initial review, continuing reviews and modifications. The IRB may charge fees for serving as the single IRB of Record (sIRB) for federally funded, multi-site studies for any grant proposals submitted to the NIH after January 2018.

Where can I obtain the budget template?

The Rutgers budget template is available at Budget Templates | Rutgers Research or by contacting Research and Sponsored Programs.

Are there any exemptions to these charges?

In general, there are no cases in which waivers for the charge may be granted. However, if an investigator believes there are special circumstances, they may request a waiver in writing. Approvals for waivers will be rare and will be approved by the Director of the HRPP in consultation, as needed, with the Associate Vice President for Research.

Is RU unusual in charging for IRB review? Are the charges at RU in line with other institutions?

No, most academic medical centers throughout the country charge for IRB review.  The charges are similar to many academic institutions, lower than many others, and lower than external IRBs. The current rates were set in 2020 and have not been increased since.

How were the charges determined?

The rates were determined based on cost according to University procedures and were reviewed and approved by the RU Budget Office. The charge for affiliated institutes is higher because an indirect cost charge is added to these as mandated by the Budget Office, in accordance with University policy.

Are IRB Fees included in the Facilities & Administrative (F&A) Rates?

F&A costs, sometimes referred to as “indirect costs” or “burden costs,” are federally defined as the costs "incurred for common or joint objectives [that] therefore cannot be identified readily and specifically with a particular sponsored project, an instructional activity, or any other institutional activity.”

When preparing the budget, IRB fees are listed as a line item and F&A rates are applicable to these fees.

An IRB fee can only be charged to the grant, if the terms and conditions of the grant list IRB fees (e.g., Human Subject Protection Fee) as an allowable expense and it is part of the approved award budget.

If the award budget does not list IRB fees (e.g., Human Subject Protection Fee) as an allowable expense, then the F&A financial approver (i.e., department chair, Dean or designee) determine if the IRB Fee will be covered by the departmental F & A rate returns. IRB Fees may be covered by the F & A rate returns only if it is not an allowable expense of the grant. This may be determined by reviewing the allowable expenses in the terms and conditions of each award.

I am a Rutgers PI, planning an NIH proposal, with research to be conducted at Rutgers sites only. Should I add IRB fees to my budget?

No, you do not need to add IRB fees to your budget. If this is not a multi-site study and you are a Rutgers Faculty member serving as the PI then no IRB fee applies.