uconn

HRP Education & Outreach

Our Mission

The Human Research Protection (HRP) Education & Outreach (E&O) program is a unified cross-campus initiative to provide education and outreach to all who are involved in research involving human subjects. Our mission is to equip researchers with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the regulatory landscape of human subjects research.

Through proactive engagement, the program aims to support researchers and promote ethical practices that enhance understanding of human subjects protections across the university community.

The HRP Education & Outreach program goals are to:

  • Inform the research community about the latest developments in human subjects protection, including news, guidance, and regulatory updates.
  • Educate researchers, IRB members, and IRB staff through tailored outreach and ongoing learning opportunities.
  • Support investigators through compliance reviews, self-monitoring tools, and personalized assistance to promote high-quality, ethically sound research.

By offering these resources, we seek to reduce compliance burdens and foster a culture of collaboration and integrity in research involving human participants.

Contact Us

We are here to support your research. Reach out to ask questions, request a consultation, or share feedback.

Email: hrp-education@uconn.edu

Team Contacts:

  • Joan Levine, MPH, CIP – Team Lead
  • Rebecca Burke, MS
  • Ellen Ciesielski

What We Offer

The Human Research Protection Education & Outreach program offers a variety of resources designed to support researchers, IRB members, and IRB staff. We welcome your feedback and ideas as we grow our offerings.

Next Training Opportunity

April Training:  Exempt, Expedited, or Full Board? Understanding IRB Categories of Review

During this session, we will go over the Exempt, Expedited, and Full Board IRB review categories and review the regulatory requirements for each. Examples will be provided to illustrate how studies are categorized and what investigators should consider when preparing IRB submissions. The webinar is ideal for UConn faculty and student researchers, and research personnel involved in preparing or submitting studies to the IRB.

Understanding review categories is important to help prepare stronger IRB submissions, reduce back‑and‑forth with the IRB, and ensures your research aligns with regulatory requirements.

Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM 

Virtual presentation via Teams

Register now to secure your spot.

IRB Office Hours

Connect one-on-one. To meet with HRP staff to ask questions, seek guidance, or discuss specific concerns, sign up for our Office Hours.

Custom Education or Training

Request a session tailored to your department, unit or class. Content is designed to meet your research specific needs. To request a training or education session, please click the link below and complete the form, including a brief description of the topic or area you would like the session to cover.

Training and Education Request Form Button

Electronic Submissions Trainings

UConn InfoEd training: For questions related to the use of InfoEd, please contact the UConn IRB at irb@uconn.edu.

Trainings Offered On-Demand

FDA-Regulated Research Training Sessions – To support research teams conducting studies subject to FDA regulations under 21 CFR Part 312 (Investigational New Drug Application) or 21 CFR Part 812 (Investigational Device Exemptions), the HRPP offers completion of a two-part training process:

· Pre-Study Implementation Session: Designed to prepare teams before initiating FDA-regulated research.

· Post-Implementation Assessment: Conducted after the enrollment of the first five participants to evaluate and support ongoing compliance.

HRPP staff will provide an overview of relevant guidance and institutional policies, with a focus on adhering to Good Clinical Practice (GCP). Participants will also learn about the essential components of a Regulatory Binder and its role in maintaining compliance throughout the research process. To schedule these sessions, please complete our Training and Education Request Form.

Sessions Coming in 2026

Stay tuned for dates and registration links!

Common Compliance Pitfalls: Join us to review the most common errors found during human subjects research compliance monitoring in the last year. Learn what to watch out for and practical strategies to avoid these common pitfalls! Date: TBA

Conflict of Interest: Have questions about how to address potential conflicts of interest in the context of human subjects research? We have the answers! We will be discussing all the requirements related to IRB submissions and conflicts of interest. Date: TBA

 

Compliance Monitoring

Human Research Protection Compliance Monitoring Program

Human subjects research at UConn and UConn Health is monitored by the HRP Education & Outreach program. The goal of the monitoring program is to assess compliance of human subjects research with federal, state, local law, and UConn policies, identifying areas for improvement, and providing recommendations and support based on best practices, current policies and the principles set forth in the Belmont Report. More information about the monitoring program can be found in our policies and standard operating procedures.

All active studies are subject to such reviews, including exempt research or studies where a reliance agreement is in place with another institution.

Studies may be randomly selected for a compliance review or chosen for other reasons as described in the applicable policies and procedures. Categories of compliance reviews include routine, informed consent, for-cause, IRB-directed, and investigator-initiated.

A detailed report summarizing the review findings, required actions, and recommendations will be sent to the researcher. Additionally, findings from the review may be shared with individuals responsible for research oversight to reinforce compliance with policies and regulatory requirements. Findings from these reviews help inform and shape future educational offerings.

Related Policies & Procedures:

Completing IACUC Triennial Reviews

Triennial review is a complete (de novo) IACUC review of the previously approved protocol that is federally required every three years to receive continued approval of ongoing activities on the protocol. The protocol PI will receive email notification when a triennial review is coming due.

IMPORTANT!

Section II:

  • Update the General Protocol Information if necessary (e.g., species, total animal number).
  • If any students will be assisting as part of a registered course (such as an independent study), “teaching” should be checked off under “type of project” and the course number should be listed.

Section III:

  • Add or remove funding sources from your protocol. Include both external and internal funding sources.
  • If needed, update collaboration section. Collaborations that are no longer ongoing should be removed.

Section IV:

  • Update the Project Overview to summarize the next three years of research/activity.
  • Consider the aims and benefits of the research/activity for the next three years and update if needed
  • In Section IV.B, provide a brief summary of what has been learned over the past three years, including any projects/experiments that have been completed.

Section V:

  • Update the Description of Procedures:
  • Remove any experiments completed or no longer needed. For ongoing or not yet started experiments, add any new components to the experimental description. Update proposed animal numbers and groups in each experiment to reflect the next three years of research/activity.
  • If changes to procedures are needed to reflect the research/activities for the next three years (e.g., addition of new procedures or addition of new substances), update those protocol sections accordingly.

Section VI:

  • Update the Justification of Animal Use and Numbers to reflect the total number of animals needed for the next three years of research.
  • Remove species/strains you are no longer using or add species/strains you intend to use in the next three years.

Section VII:

  • Update animal source, age, sex, and other details to reflect any changes for the next three years of research/activity.

Section VIII:

  • Update pain categorization and allocation of animals to reflect research/activity for the next three years.
  • If there are Category D or E procedures, a new veterinary consult is required (update consult number/date in Appendix E).
  • Update Recognition and Assessment of Stress and Distress as well as Refinement as necessary to reflect the procedures you intend to us in the next three years.

Section IX:

  • Update Specific Procedures and Studies as needed
  • Update Controlled Substances license/registration information as needed.
  • Add or remove housing and use locations from your protocol if needed.

Section X:

  • Update special husbandry, identification, and transportation as needed.

Section XI:

  • Verify that animal disposition and methods of euthanasia are still accurate. Update if needed.

Section XIII (and Appendix C):

  • Add or remove personnel from your protocol as needed. Personnel experience and training should be updated as appropriate.

Section XV (and Appendix E):

  • All Consideration of Alternatives must be redone at the time of the Triennial Review. Any new procedures or models added to the protocol that may cause any more than momentary pain or distress must also be added to the Consideration of Alternatives.

Sections XVI and XVII:

  • Update signature and dates

Other Considerations:

  • Field Research:
    • Update field locations as appropriate
    • Verify contingency plan(s) for injured animals are still correct
    • Review and/or update required permit, or indicate if new permits are being obtained
    • Given the target and non-target species that may have been caught/observed in the past three years, review the biological and ecological impacts of the research and update as appropriate
    • Update and provide a copy of your Field Safety SOP
  • Update all supporting documentation and appendices as necessary

Subaward Contacts by Academic Unit

Yvonne Rafferty

Contacts below may also be reached via Microsoft Teams call or chat during business hours

Name Title Email
Tracy Bourassa Senior Director, Sponsored Program Services tracy.bourassa@uconn.edu
Tanja deMauro Associate Director, Pre-Award & Federal Contracting tanja.demauro@uconn.edu
Yvonne Rafferty Senior Subaward Specialist hsw25003@uconn.edu
Vanessa Mitchell Subaward Specialist vanessa.licowski@uconn.edu
Academic Unit Subawards Team Contact
Accounting Vanessa Mitchell
Africana Studies, Institute of Yvonne Rafferty
Agricultural & Natural Resources Vanessa Mitchell
Agricultural & Resource Economics Vanessa Mitchell
Allied Health Sciences Vanessa Mitchell
Animal Science Vanessa Mitchell
Anthropology Yvonne Rafferty
Art & Art History Yvonne Rafferty
Asian American Studies Institute Yvonne Rafferty
Benton (William) Museum of Art Yvonne Rafferty
Biomedical Engineering Yvonne Rafferty
Biotechnology/Bioservices Center Yvonne Rafferty
Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2) Yvonne Rafferty
Center for Environmental Science & Engineering (CESE) Vanessa Mitchell
Center for Integrative Geosciences Yvonne Rafferty
Center for Access & Postsecondary Success Yvonne Rafferty
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Yvonne Rafferty
Chemistry Yvonne Rafferty
Civil & Environmental Engineering Vanessa Mitchell
College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, Office of the Dean Yvonne Rafferty
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Office of the Dean Yvonne Rafferty
Comcast Center of Excellence for Security Innovation Vanessa Mitchell
Communication Yvonne Rafferty
Computer Science & Engineering Vanessa Mitchell
Connecticut Advanced Computing Center Vanessa Mitchell
Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis Vanessa Mitchell
Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) Yvonne Rafferty
Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve (CT NERR) Yvonne Rafferty
Connecticut Small Business Development Center Vanessa Mitchell
Connecticut Transportation Institute Yvonne Rafferty
Cooperative Extension System Vanessa Mitchell
Curriculum & Instruction Yvonne Rafferty
Digital Media & Design Yvonne Rafferty
Dramatic Arts Yvonne Rafferty
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Yvonne Rafferty
Economics Yvonne Rafferty
Educational Leadership Vanessa Mitchell
Educational Psychology Vanessa Mitchell
Electrical & Computer Engineering Vanessa Mitchell
English Yvonne Rafferty
Engineering Diversity Program Vanessa Mitchell
Eversource Energy Center Yvonne Rafferty
Finance Vanessa Mitchell
Geography Yvonne Rafferty
Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute Yvonne Rafferty
Global Affairs, Office of Yvonne Rafferty
Global Training & Development Institute Yvonne Rafferty
Graduate Education Yvonne Rafferty
History Yvonne Rafferty
Human Development & Family Sciences Yvonne Rafferty
Humanities Institute Yvonne Rafferty
Innovations Institute Yvonne Rafferty
Institute for Collaboration of Health, Intervention & Policy (InCHIP) Vanessa Mitchell
Institute for Student Success (ISS) Vanessa Mitchell
Institute of Materials Science (IMS) Yvonne Rafferty
Journalism Yvonne Rafferty
Kinesiology Vanessa Mitchell
Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Center for Yvonne Rafferty
Linguistics Yvonne Rafferty
Literatures, Cultures & Languages Yvonne Rafferty
Management Vanessa Mitchell
Marine Sciences Vanessa Mitchell
Marketing Vanessa Mitchell
Materials Science & Engineering Vanessa Mitchell
Mathematics Yvonne Rafferty
Mechanical Engineering Vanessa Mitchell
Molecular & Cell Biology Yvonne Rafferty
Music Yvonne Rafferty
Natural Resources & the Environment Vanessa Mitchell
Neag School of Education, Office of the Dean Vanessa Mitchell
Nutritional Sciences Vanessa Mitchell
Office of Institutional Equity Yvonne Rafferty
Office of the Vice President for Research Vanessa Mitchell
Operations & Information Management Yvonne Rafferty
Pathobiology & Veterinary Science Vanessa Mitchell
Pharmaceutical Sciences Vanessa Mitchell
Pharmacy Practice Vanessa Mitchell
Philosophy Yvonne Rafferty
Physical Therapy Vanessa Mitchell
Physics Yvonne Rafferty
Physiology & Neurobiology Yvonne Rafferty
Plant Science & Landscape Architecture Vanessa Mitchell
Political Science Yvonne Rafferty
Pratt & Whitney Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering Yvonne Rafferty
Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Yvonne Rafferty
Psychological Sciences Yvonne Rafferty
Public Policy Yvonne Rafferty
Public & Environmental Safety Yvonne Rafferty
Puerto Rican & Latino Studies, Institute of Yvonne Rafferty
Regional Campuses Vanessa Mitchell
School of Business, Office of the Dean Vanessa Mitchell
School of Education, Office of the Dean Vanessa Mitchell
School of Engineering, Office of the Dean Vanessa Mitchell
School of Fine Arts Yvonne Rafferty
School of Law Yvonne Rafferty
School of Nursing Yvonne Rafferty
School of Pharmacy, Office of the Dean Vanessa Mitchell
School of Social Work Yvonne Rafferty
Sea Grant College Program, Connecticut Yvonne Rafferty
Sociology Yvonne Rafferty
Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences Yvonne Rafferty
Statistics Yvonne Rafferty
Student Activities Yvonne Rafferty
Student/Academic Affairs Yvonne Rafferty
Student Health Services Yvonne Rafferty
Tech Park Vanessa Mitchell
Undergraduate Education Yvonne Rafferty
University Libraries Yvonne Rafferty
Urban & Community Studies Yvonne Rafferty
Werth Institute Yvonne Rafferty

 

Quantum Technologies

UConn OVPR Guidance on Research Related to Semiconductor, Quantum Computing, GAAFET Technology and Additive Manufacturing Items

This website is intended to assist UConn Principal Investigators (PI) and researchers who plan to pursue research in the areas of semiconductor, quantum computing, GAAFET technology and additive manufacturing.

BIS New Interim Final Rule on Quantum and Other Technology

In coordination with international partners and in furtherance of the United States national security and foreign policy interests, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) released an interim final rule on September 6, 2024, revising the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) for certain items, which are categorized under specific Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) on the Commerce Control List (CCL). These items include:

  • Gate All-Around Field-Effect Transistor (GAAFET) Technology: Technology that produces or develops high-performance computing chips that can be used in supercomputers. ECCNs: 3D006, and 3E905.
  • Additive Manufacturing Items: Equipment, components, and related technology and software designed to produce metal or metal alloy components, including coating systems, metal additive manufacturing (AM), and AM equipment, utilizing plasma, lasers or electron beams, extreme temperatures, or similar novel technologies not in the public domain. ECCNs: 2E003, 2B910, 2D910, 2E903, and 2E910.

What if your research falls into one or more of these categories?

Send an email to exportcontrol@uconn.edu and provide relevant information about your proposed research and the technologies that it involves along with details about the composition of the prospective research team.

Export Control will review your research alongside you to determine if security provisions need to be put in place to safeguard your work and meet export control regulations.

What does an Export Control review entail?

  • Work with the PI and team to review the full parameters of the proposed research to determine whether one or more of the ECCN​s listed above is applicable.
  • Determine the controls required by the ECCN​.
  • If controls apply, a Technology Control Plan (TCP) may be required​.
  • If controls apply, PIs must also fill out a Principal Investigator Acknowledgement Form.
  • If controls apply to members of the research team, these individuals must also fill out a Research Affiliate Acknowledgement Form.
  • Review the use of a License Exception, if applicable.
    • Foreign nationals from some countries may be restricted from working on these technologies absent a General License that includes annual reporting requirements to the Bureau of Industry and Security of the names and personnel information of those working on the project.
  • Apply for a license from the Department of Commerce, if required.

OVPR Connection Form

Connection Form - Office of the Vice President for Research

The Office of the Vice President for Research invites members of the UConn community to use this form to ask questions, share ideas, etc.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
VPRIE Lindsay DiStefano and the OVPR leadership team will select 1-2 questions to answer in each new edition of "The Abstract" (OVPR's bi-weekly communication). If you would like an individual response to your question, please include your name and email address below
Would you like an OVPR representative to visit meet with you or your unit regarding this question?
OVPR is available to talk with you, your team, or your unit about any research / research support related topic. Please share your name and email address below.
The challenges we encounter as University are numerous, complex, and ever-shifting. No one has all of the answers. OVPR welcomes your ideas about how to address challenges in positive, productive ways.
If you would like an individual response to your question or would like to set up a meeting with an OVPR representative, please share your name.
If you would like an individual response to your question or would like to set up a meeting with an OVPR representative, please share your UConn email address.

Reliance FAQs for Multi-site Research and Research with External Collaborators

Effective Monday, March 9, 2026 new minimal risk studies that are eligible for Exempt or Expedited review should be submitted to BRANY IRB rather than the UConn IRB, unless an exception has been granted. This is in addition to studies that already meet existing criteria for BRANY submission (external funding, more than 2 external collaborators). This means that the majority of new projects should follow instructions found on the UConn BRANY webpage when creating an Initial Application in InfoEd. Do NOT create an Initial Application in InfoEd before reviewing this BRANY IRB Announcement. Note: Human Subjects Research (HSR) Determinations, External Exempt (REG) and Full Board studies should continue to be submitted in InfoEd as usual for review by the UConn IRB Office.

What do the terms “external investigators” or “external collaborators” mean in relation to my UConn IRB submission?

The terms “external collaborators” and “external investigators” refer to study personnel who are engaged in human subjects research under the purview of the UConn IRB but who are not affiliated with UConn Storrs or any of the UConn Regional Campuses.

Please note that UConn Health is a separate entity with its own IRB. UConn Health faculty and personnel are considered external collaborators/investigators for the purposes of IRB protocols unless the individual has a dual affiliation and their role in the research is primarily related to their UConn Storrs/Regional Campuses role.

Possession of a NetID does not necessarily mean that an individual is affiliated with UConn. For example, if an individual’s only association with UConn is a sponsored affiliate account, this individual would likely be considered an external study team member. Please explain the UConn association (e.g., paid contractor for this study) for any individual with an affiliate account in your IRB application.

What does an “engaged” external collaborator mean in relation to human subjects research?

Generally, a person or institution is engaged in human subjects research if they have a key role in designing or conducting the research, analyzing identifiable information, or obtaining informed consent. Determining whether an external person or an external institution is engaged in a research project is typically the first step for an IRB Office in determining whether an external agreement may need to be executed.

Detailed federal guidance regarding engagement, including specific scenarios, can be found here: https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/guidance/guidance-on-engagement-of-institutions/index.html.

A colleague from UConn Health and I plan to be co-investigators on a new study. Which IRB should we submit to?

Refer to the Guidelines for Collaborative Research with UConn Health found on the IRB Reliance webpage for guidance.

I am planning to conduct research at a local elementary school. No one from the school staff will be on my study team. Will I need a reliance agreement?

Reliance agreements may be executed when researchers from different institutions with their own IRBs collaborate on a nonexempt research project. If you are conducting research at an elementary school, and the school staff will not be part of the study team, you will need to obtain permission to conduct the research at the school, but a reliance agreement will probably not be required. In your IRB submission, be sure to provide a detailed explanation of any research-related activities that will be undertaken by school staff so that your reviewer can appropriately advise you if any types of external agreements may be necessary.

I am planning to conduct research in collaboration with a local nonprofit agency. Some of the agency staff will be part of the study team. These staff members will be obtaining consent from participants. The agency does not have their own IRB. How do I list these external collaborators on my InfoEd application

If the external agency does not have their own IRB, then within your InfoEd application you will need to request that UConn serve as the IRB of record for external investigators and note that these investigators are individuals who are not affiliated with an institution with an IRB.

I am designing a research project with a colleague at another university. We anticipate that the project will be reviewed as exempt research. Will I need a reliance agreement?

UConn does not enter into reliance agreements for exempt research. Each institution involved in the research will need to issue an exemption determination to cover their own affiliates’ activities. As you develop your study materials, please refer to the Guidance for Multisite Exempt Research on our IRB Reliance webpage for more information.

I would like to add a colleague from another university to my study team for my ongoing exempt research. What do I need to do?

The UConn IRB generally does not review the activities of external personnel who are affiliated with an institution with an IRB when a study qualifies for exempt status. Collaborators should reach out to their home institution’s IRB to determine local review requirements and/or obtain their own exemption determination. Although these external collaborators should not be listed individually on the UConn IRB application, if the collaboration will necessitate significant changes to the approved study materials or updates to the information provided to the IRB during the initial review, an amendment to address these changes may be necessary. Please refer to the Guidance for Multisite Exempt Research on our IRB Reliance webpage for more information.

A colleague from another university would like to add me to their study team for a project that their IRB determined was exempt research. What should I do?

If you intend to collaborate on a project that another IRB has already determined is exempt research, you will need to create an “External Exempt” Initial Application in InfoEd and attach the materials from the external IRB as requested in the electronic application. The UConn IRB Office will review the submission for local context and attempt to issue our own exemption determination based on the materials approved by the other IRB. Refer to our Guidance for Multisite Exempt Research found on the IRB Reliance webpage for more information.

Note that all materials to be used for multisite research, whether the study is exempt or nonexempt, should properly reflect the involvement of each engaged site.

A colleague at another university has asked me to join their study team to conduct statistical analyses for an ongoing project. My colleague’s IRB has already approved the research via expedited (nonexempt) review. Do I need to submit anything to the UConn IRB?

Yes, you will need to submit your activities to the UConn IRB as UConn is responsible for reviewing the research activities undertaken by our own affiliates as part of their role at UConn.

If the datasets are considered to be de-identified, you should submit a “Not Human Subjects Research” application in InfoEd. Note that datasets that may be referred to as “de-identified” may not meet federally-defined IRB standards for “de-identified” so it is best to seek an official IRB determination before beginning any analyses on data collected from human subjects.

If you intend to analyze identifiable data (which includes any type of recording), you should submit a “Request to rely on a non-UConn IRB” submission if your colleague’s IRB is willing to serve as the IRB of record. If your colleague’s IRB is not willing to serve as the IRB of record, you should submit an IRB application for “Expedited/Full Board” review that focuses on your role in the overall project.

A colleague from another university would like to add me to their study team for a project that their IRB determined was nonexempt research. What should I do?

Your colleague should consult with their IRB (if they haven’t already) and establish if their IRB would be willing to serve as the IRB of record with UConn as a relying site. If your colleague’s IRB is willing to serve as the reviewing IRB, then you should submit a “Request to rely on a non-UConn IRB” Initial Application in InfoEd so that our IRB Office can review your request. To complete the InfoEd application, you will need to have copies of the approved study materials, the initial approval letter from the IRB of record, and any forms the IRB of record would like the UConn IRB to complete.

If your colleague’s IRB is not willing to serve as the IRB of record, and the study is not subject to the single IRB mandate due to federal funding, you should submit an Initial Application in InfoEd for an “Expedited/Full Board” review. The application should focus on your planned study activities.

I intend to serve as the PI for a nonexempt study that will include study team members from other universities. Where should I start with my IRB submission?

For multisite research, you should develop your IRB review plan well in advance of your IRB submission. If your study is federally funded by one of the agencies subject to the single IRB mandate (this includes most federal funding), you may be required to designate one IRB to serve as the IRB of record. The IRB should be consulted in advance before designating it to serve as the IRB of record. If the single IRB mandate is not applicable, you should discuss with your collaborators if it makes sense to designate a single IRB of record and have the other institutions rely on that IRB’s review or if you would prefer to have each IRB conduct their own review.

Refer to the Guidance for UConn Serving as the IRB of Record for Multisite Research on the IRB Reliance webpage for additional information on how to develop an IRB review plan and how to create study materials for multisite research.

If you would like to request that UConn serve as the IRB of record, please complete the “Request for UConn to Serve as the IRB of Record” form found on the IRB Reliance webpage and email the completed form to irb-reliance@uconn.edu.

Currently, research that is externally funded and/or involves more than two engaged external relying sites or external investigators is eligible for review by BRANY IRB. Please see our BRANY IRB webpage for more information and to confirm study eligibility.

I am a student at UConn, and I plan to work on an ongoing research project related to my major at a local hospital. The project was approved by the hospital’s IRB. What do I need to submit to the UConn IRB?

Refer to UConn’s Guidelines for Students Conducting Research at External Institutions found on the IRB Reliance webpage for guidance.

I am the UConn PI for a multisite study where we are relying on the IRB at my colleague’s university. A reliance agreement is already in place, and the study has a RELY submission record in InfoEd. I have some personnel changes I would like to make to the UConn study team. To which IRB do I submit these changes?

For “RELY” studies where an external IRB is serving as the IRB of record, all changes to the local UConn personnel should be submitted as a “Personnel Change” submission in InfoEd. UConn is responsible for verifying training and checking for COI. You and/or the Overall PI should also consult with the IRB of record to be sure you understand their amendment submission requirements and whether they require amendments to update relying site personnel changes.

I am the Overall PI for a multisite study for which UConn serves as the IRB of record. A collaborator at one of the relying universities is adding new personnel to their local study team. Do I need to submit an amendment to both UConn and the relying IRB?

For local relying site personnel changes where UConn serves as the IRB of record, an amendment is not required to notify the UConn IRB each time there is an update to the personnel at a relying site unless the local PI is changing or the personnel change could affect study safety (such as the removal of a medical monitor). All other local personnel changes should be reviewed and processed by the relying IRB where those changes are occurring. However, although individual amendment submissions are not required to update the UConn IRB of most relying site personnel changes, the Overall PI at UConn is required to keep an updated list of study personnel at each site and will be asked to submit this list on the External Personnel Log form with their annual continuing review or administrative check-in submission. The External Personnel Log form is available on the IRB Reliance webpage.

I have a question about external collaborations in human subjects research that is not covered here. Who should I contact for assistance?

Please email irb-reliance@uconn.edu with your question, and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. If you are reaching out with an initial inquiry about a new multisite study, in your email please identify all external collaborators and sites that will be engaged in the research, identify who will serve as the overall PI, identify who will serve as the UConn PI, provide a brief description of the research, describe any funding, and include any other information that may be relevant to your inquiry.

HRP Request Form

Request for Human Research Protections (HRP) Education & Outreach Presentation or Training

The HRP Education & Outreach Office team is happy to provide a specific training at your request. Please let us know what type of training you are looking for by submitting this form.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name(Required)
Campus:(Required)
Who is the audience for the presentation?(Required)
Would you like this training to be delivered virtually online or in person?(Required)

Section Break

Compliance

What is PPASA?

The Pre-Award and Post-Award Support & Analysis (PPASA) team is part of Sponsored Program Services (SPS) and serves as a central resource for financial oversight, compliance, and operational support for sponsored research at UConn. PPASA partners closely with SPS Post Award staff, Principal Investigators, departmental administrators, and internal auditors to ensure that sponsored funds are managed responsibly and in full accordance with University policies, as well as federal, state, sponsor, and award-specific regulations.

PPASA plays a key role in strengthening institutional processes by reviewing, standardizing, and streamlining workflows. The team supports SPS Post Award, departments, and University staff to identify needs, leading development efforts, and implementing new initiatives that promote efficiency, compliance and research excellence. PPASA’s mission reflects a commitment to continuous improvement and to moving beyond traditional practices in support of evolving best practices.

PPASA provides measurable value to the University by strengthening financial stewardship, reducing institutional risk, and promoting consistent compliance across sponsored programs. Through proactive monitoring, transaction-level reviews, and early engagement with faculty and departments, PPASA helps identify and address potential compliance issues before they escalate into audit findings and/or disallowed costs. By supporting standardized practices, reinforcing internal controls, and serving as a central compliance and advisory resource, PPASA enhances UConn’s audit readiness, protects sponsor relationships, and supports the long-term sustainability and credibility of the University’s research enterprise.

Who is PPASA?

Ella Sun, Director elsun@uchc.edu
Matthew Cahill, Assistant Director matthew.cahill@uconn.edu
Michelle Owens, Grants and Contracts Specialist michelle.owens@uconn.edu
Cansu Kaya-Yavas, Grants and Contracts Assistant cansu.kaya_yavas@uconn.edu

What Does PPASA Do?

PPASA provides oversight and support through a wide range of activities, including:

  • Monitoring subrecipients to ensure institutional and sponsor compliance
  • Reviewing sponsored project transactions, including PCard and HuskyBuy purchases, to ensure allowability and consistency
  • Conducting new award outreach to support compliant Post Award setup and spending
  • Performing risk-based reviews and data analysis to identify trends and improvement opportunities
  • Participating in RFPs and providing consultative support for sponsored projects and SPS initiatives
  • Collaborating with SPS Post Award, departments, and internal partners to strengthen internal controls and enhance audit readiness
  • Managing human research participant payment system, which streamlines and automates participant payments while ensuring compliance, accuracy, and real-time tracking

OVPR SPS Reports Archive

FY2020 and Earlier

Q4/FY20

Q3/FY20

Q2/FY20

Q1/FY20

Q4/FY19

Q3/FY19

Q2/FY19

Q1/FY19

Q4/FY18

Q3/FY18

Q2/FY18

Q1/FY18

Q4/FY17

Q3/FY17

Q2/FY17

Q1/FY17

Q4/FY16

Q3/FY 16

Q2/FY 16

Q1/FY 16

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