The HRPP in partnership with the research community, is responsible for ensuring the safety and welfare of participants in Human Subjects Research conducted under the aegis of USC. HRPP, which is a Division within the Office of Research and Innovation, provides the campus and the four USC Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) with professional guidance and administrative support and oversight.
Amazon has announced that Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) will permanently close on September 30, 2026. Researchers who use MTurk to recruit participants or distribute surveys will need to transition to another platform. For IRB-approved studies, replacing MTurk may require an amendment before the new recruitment or data-collection method is implemented. Researchers should plan accordingly and contact the IRB if they have questions.
An updated protocol template for Social-Behavioral and secondary data use studies is now required for studies submitted after September 1st. Please make sure to use the most up to date template!
To support the responsible use of emerging technologies, studies involving Artificial Intelligence (AI) that analyze or collect personal or confidential information require an ITS/Cybersecurity assessment prior to IRB submission. This step helps ensure compliance with USC policy on generative AI and protects sensitive data. Requests can be easily submitted through ITS ServiceNow, and IRB approval is contingent on completing this review.
We also want to provide transparency on current review timelines. Social-behavioral studies are currently averaging approximately seven weeks before initial IRB review begins. We recognize the impact this may have on research timelines and are actively working to improve turnaround times through process enhancements, staffing assessments, and prioritization of time-sensitive submissions, including student research.
Researchers can help expedite approvals by submitting high-quality, complete applications. To support you, there are a range of resources, including online guidance materials, faculty advisors for student investigators, and weekly “Ask an Analyst” sessions (Wednesdays at 10am) to assist with general questions on preparing and submitting protocols for IRB review.
We appreciate your partnership as we continue working to enhance service, protect research participants, and support the success of your work.
Amazon has announced that Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) will permanently close on September 30, 2026. Researchers who use MTurk to recruit participants or distribute surveys will need to transition to another platform. For IRB-approved
We are pleased to announce the release of an updated protocol template for social-behavioral and secondary data use research. The revised template has been designed to help investigators provide a
Please review updates made to the USC HRPP Policy in the link below. HRPP Policy 12/10/24
