IRB Fee Increase – Effective October 1, 2024

Institutional Review Board

Human Research Protections (HRP)

IRB Review Fee: New Rate

Version October 3, 2024

IRB Review Fee: New Rate

Facts About the IRB Review Fee:

  1. The IRB review fee will increase from $1850.00 to $2781.00.[1]+[2]
  2. The IRB review fee is a one-time charge for new clinical research protocols partially or fully supported by industry sponsors.
  3. This new rate impacts protocols approved by the IRB on or after October 1, 2024.
  4. IRB review fees are not charged when federal, state or foundation dollars are used, and UCI is the IRB of record.
  5. When a commercial IRB is used however, along with federal funds, IRB review fees are charged as the IRB is considered a vendor under the terms of the award.
  6. The IRB review fee is charged to the funding source after IRB approval, and once the contract is finalized.
  7. The rate supports the administrative costs of the protocol review process.[3]
  8. HRP will continue to work with clinical teams, and the re-charge committee at UCI, aligning fee increases to (ideally) start at the time of the new fiscal year.

Thank you for your continued flexibility as we continue to adjust costs in our HRP, and our efforts to maintain a single IRB review fee.

Should you have any questions on IRB fees, please review our webpage, and then reach out to Beverley Alberola, at 949-824-5746.

[1] For reference: UCI continues to maintain one of the lowest IRB review fee rates among the UC campuses. UC IRB review rates for new studies range from $2781 (UCI)(no additional IRB charges), $3200 (UCLA)($2000 reliance), $3510 (UCSD)($1300 renewal), $3400 (UC Davis)($1600 renewal) and $3930 (UCSF)($1540 reliance)($2140 renewal).


[2] The UCI IRB rate of $2781 was previously used in fiscal year 2021, along with tiered billing (e.g., charged for renewals). 


[3] If a researcher submits a protocol through a single IRB review (s-IRB) process, then, re-submits to UCI IRB or should the reverse occur, IRB fees will be assessed both times to account for each separate administrative cost.

Stay informed! Sign up for our HRP / IRB Listserv: To subscribe to HRP News & Announcements, send a blank email to: or-irb-hrp+subscribe@uci.edu

Scroll to Top