CSI IRB Fee Schedule

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CSI is committed to protecting human research participants while ensuring that ethical review remains accessible, transparent, and mission-aligned, particularly for veteran-serving and community-based organizations.

All fees support:

• Independent IRB operations
• Administrative review and recordkeeping
• Reviewer honoraria (including unaffiliated members)
• Compliance, documentation, and secure data management
• Ethical oversight and continuing review

                    1. Exempt Determination  (Minimal-risk research meeting exemption criteria)

                        Fee: $350  

                   Includes:

                   · Administrative review

                   · Exempt determination letter

                   · Documentation for publication or funders

                   2. Expedited Review  (Minimal risk, non-exempt research)

                        Fee: $900

                   Includes:

                   · Reviewer assignment

                   · Ethical review

                   · Consent form review

                   · Determination letter

                   · One round of minor revisions

                 3. Full Board Review (Greater than minimal  risk or vulnerable populations)

                      Fee: $1,750

                 Includes:

                 · Placement on IRB agenda

                 · Full board discussion and vote

                 · Written determination

                 · Required modifications review

                 · Initial approval documentation

                    1. Annual / Continuing Review

                       Fee: $400  

                  Required when applicable under regulations or sponsor requirements.

                   2. Amendment Review (Protocol changes, consent updates, 

                   recruitment modifications)

                        Fee: $250 per amendment 

                   Minor administrative amendments may be waived at IRB discretion. 

                    1. Pre-Review Consultation

                        (Determines whether IRB review is required) 

                       Fee: $150  

                  Applied toward IRB submission fee if review is required.

                    2. External or Independent Reviewer Assignment

                   (When conflict-of-interest safeguards require external review)

                       Fee: $300-600

                   (Quoted based on scope) 

                   2. Adverse Event / Incident Review

                        Fee: $250 per amendment 

CSI recognizes the financial constraints faced by mission-driven organizations.

Eligible for Reduced-Cost Review:

• Veteran-serving nonprofits
• Community-based organizations
• Faith-based organizations
• Independent researchers without institutional backing
• Student or early-career investigators (non-commercial)

Discounts:

• 25–50% fee reduction, based on eligibility and available sponsorship
• Sponsored reviews may be funded by CSI partners or donors

Requests for reduced-cost review must be submitted prior to protocol review.

For-profit, industry-sponsored, or commercial research (e.g., biotech, device, pharmaceutical, or proprietary intervention studies) are subject to custom pricing.

Commercial IRB pricing:

• Starts at $3,500+, depending on scope, risk level, and oversight needs

• Fees are due at submission
• Review does not begin until payment is received
• Fees are non-refundable once review has commenced
• Withdrawn protocols prior to review may be partially refunded at CSI discretion

CSI IRB fees are not tied to approval outcomes.

Payment does not guarantee approval.

All determinations are based solely on:

• Ethical standards
• Participant protections
• Regulatory compliance

If you’re conducting research involving veterans, families, trauma recovery, or justice-system impacts, CSI would be honored to support your ethics review and research success.

Email: IRB@combathelp.comto request IRB Review / Fee Waiver Form