Expedited Review

Expedited review may apply to human subjects applications that do not meet the guidelines for exempt review.  Research in this category must involve no more than minimal risk for participants.

According to the Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP), minimal risk "means that the probability and magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research are not greater...than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or during the performance of routine physical or psychological examinations or tests."

OHRP guidelines also specify Categories of Research that Institutional Review Boards may review through the expedited review process.  In addition to the categories provided by OHRP, Loyola College's Policies and Procedures for Research Involving Human Participants indicate that all human subjects applications involving minors (individuals under 18 years of age) as participants are to be reviewed through the expedited review process.

When an expedited application is received by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, it is sent to two IRB committee members for review.  The expedited review process will take approximately three weeks. The reviewers refer any research protocols that are not approved through the expedited process for a full review.  The reviewers also may refer other research applications to the entire IRB whenever either of the reviewers believes that full review is necessary. 

Annual review is required for expedited projects lasting longer than one year.

Waiver of Parental Consent for Minors: If an investigator requests a waiver of parental consent for a project involving minors, the application must be reviewed by a minimum of three members of the IRB.