What Is Rapid IRB? - A Faster Way to Get IRB Determinations

 

What Is Rapid IRB?

Rapid IRB is a platform built to provide fast, compliant IRB determinations for low-risk research, quality improvement projects, and practice-based research activities. It supports both individual researchers and organizations by helping them determine whether a project qualifies for IRB exemption or non-human subjects research without unnecessary delays or administrative burden.

The platform exists to bring clarity to research oversight decisions that are often slowed down by ambiguity, inconsistent interpretation, or overextended review processes.

Why Rapid IRB Exists

Many low-risk research and quality improvement projects do not require full IRB review, yet researchers and organizations frequently struggle to determine the correct regulatory pathway. This uncertainty can delay projects, create compliance risk, or result in unnecessary escalation to full review.

Rapid IRB was created to address that gap.

The platform provides structured, expert-designed assessment tools that guide users through eligibility questions and produce clear, defensible determinations aligned with federal guidance and ethical standards.

Who Rapid IRB Is For

Rapid IRB serves both researchers and organizations involved in low-risk research activities, including:

• Individual researchers seeking clarity on IRB exemption or non-human subjects research status
• Healthcare professionals conducting quality improvement or operational evaluation projects
• Academic and clinical research teams
• Compliance and research support staff assisting investigators with project review
• Organizations that require documented determinations for internal governance or external review

RapidIRB is designed for situations where accuracy, documentation, and speed matter.

What Rapid IRB Does

RapidIRB supports several common research pathways, including:

• IRB exempt determinations
• Quality Improvement and Practice-Based Research assessments
• Non-human subjects research eligibility
• Pre-screening tools that help users identify the appropriate review pathway before proceeding

Our tools are built to produce a clear outcome with documentation that can be used for audits, internal review, or regulatory inquiries.

How Rapid IRB Is Different

RapidIRB is not a traditional IRB committee and does not replace institutional IRB oversight when full review is required. Instead, it focuses on providing clarity for projects that qualify for exemption or non-IRB pathways.

The platform emphasizes clear decision logic, defensible documentation, and practical workflows that reflect how research and quality improvement activities actually operate in real-world settings.

Rapid IRB is officially registered with the Office for Human Research Protections under IRB00014585 and FWA00035509.

These registrations reflect Rapid IRB’s commitment to federal-wide assurance requirements and to protecting the integrity, ethics, and compliance of every research project supported through the platform.

When to Use Rapid IRB

Rapid IRB is appropriate when a project is low risk, may qualify for IRB exemption, involves quality improvement or practice-based research, or requires a documented determination without extended review timelines.

When a project requires full IRB review, Rapid IRB helps identify that early so researchers and organizations can proceed appropriately.

Getting Started with Rapid IRB

Researchers and organizations typically begin by using Rapid IRB’s assessment tools to evaluate project eligibility. From there, the platform guides users to the appropriate determination pathway and provides documentation that supports compliance, internal governance, and responsible research conduct.

Rapid IRB was built to make ethical research oversight more efficient, transparent, and aligned with the realities of modern research and healthcare environments.