UIC Research Electronic Submission System

UIC Research - Submission System

UIC Research is the online system used by OPRS for protocol submission and review. All human research related submissions requiring review by the IRB/OPRS must be submitted via UIC Research.

The UIC Research electronic submission system can be accessed here: UIC Research.

UIC Research is protocol driven.  While a protocol document is required to be uploaded for every Initial Review:

  • There are no longer multiple applications and appendices to choose from and submit.
  • There is only one form to complete, therefore, you cannot complete the wrong form.
  • The duplicative questions and requests for information have been significantly reduced, if not removed.
  • Protocol templates are provided for investigators who do not have a sponsor protocol (located in the UIC Research IRB Library). The protocol template for Social, Behavioral, and Educational research was developed based on the Social, Behavioral, and Educational Sciences Initial Review Application previously used by OPRS. The information that is required is the same, just in a different format.

New Users Heading link

Investigators and research personnel will use their UIC NetID and common password to gain access to the UIC Research system.

If you do not have a UIC NetID, contact OPRS at uicirb@uic.edu for assistance.

There are descriptions and opportunities for help on each screen.  Look for the “?” symbol.  There will either be a description of the question or a more general help topic (i.e., navigating the page, how to search, etc.).

For example, on the main Dashboard the “? Help” on the upper right side, offers help on the following IRB topics:

  • Navigate the Dashboard
  • Navigate the IRB Page
  • Create and Submit a Study
  • Create and Submit a Continuing Review or Modification
  • Create and Submit a Reportable New Information

There are also guides for the Researchers located in the UIC Research IRB Help Center.

You must have a completed protocol written and ready to submit before starting a submission for all new studies.  You will not be able to save your work in UIC Research without uploading a protocol.  Once a protocol is uploaded, you will be able to save your work throughout the completion of the smart form.

Any user can initiate a new application by clicking on the dark blue “Create New Study” box on the left hand side of the main Dashboard or the IRB Dashboard.  Regardless of the type of new study (i.e., Determination of not human subjects, Claim of Exemption, Initial Review, Development/Center/Training Grant, Humanitarian Use Device, or Emergency Use), you will “Create New Study” for all initial submissions.

You will upload all study documents within the smart form in UIC Research.  For instance, the protocol will be uploaded on the “Basic Study Information” (first page of the smart form), drug and/or devices documents (e.g., FDA letters, investigator brochures, information sheets, manuals, etc.) will be uploaded on the applicable “Drugs” or “Devices” page, and local research documents (e.g., UIC consent document, recruitment materials, surveys, data collection forms, questionnaires, etc.) will be uploaded to the “Local Site Documents” page as applicable.

Prior to submitting to the IRB for review, assign the ancillary reviews (i.e., faculty sponsor, department head, Investigational Drug Service, Clinical Research Finance Office, etc.) that are required for your research.  The “Additional Information” page of the smart form asks questions that will guide you in which persons/committees require review of your research. To assign ancillary reviews, select the “Manage Ancillary Reviews” action on the left side of the study site and add the appropriate persons/committees that are required to review the study prior to its approval.

Note that while any member of the research team (e.g., Research Coordinator or Co-Investigator) can create a new submission, only the PI or PI Proxy may submit the submission. The “Submit” button, located as the third item under “Next Steps” on the left side of the screen, must be pressed or it will not be submitted to OPRS.  To “sign” the Investigator’s Assurance, the PI or PI Proxy will be required to enter their credentials into UIC Research before it will allow them to submit the study.

Emergency Use

Please notify OPRS by phone [(312)-996-1711] or email (uicirb@uic.edu) prior to submitting an Emergency Use.

OPRS staff may send the investigator a “Clarification Requested” message with specific items that require correction, clarification, and/or submission before the submission will be sent to the IRB for review.  Instead of OPRS staff emails, all clarifications and administrative requests will be contained within UIC Research in the protocol workspace.

Investigators must respond to the “Clarification Requested” in UIC Research or the submission will not move forward in the review process.

For step-by-step instructions on how to submit and/or respond to the IRB, reference the Researcher’s Guide in the UIC Research IRB Help Center.