1. The first step in creating a new Proposal is to navigate to and login using your University credentials, meaning the same username and password you would use to access Ulink or your .

2. Once logged in, you will be on the home screen, where you will receive important notifications and can access different parts of the system.
To begin a new Proposal, click the Study Assistant option in the left navigation.

3. When the Study Assistant option expands, you will see several options
When the Study Assistant option expands, you will see several options. Add a New Study will allow us to create a new Proposal.
Alternatively, clicking My Studies will allow you to view other studies that you’ve already begun to draft.

4. Now that we’ve begun a new study, iRIS will need to know what type of form you are filling out. In this instance we will be filling out a new IACUC Application. Click the appropriate radio button and then the Start Selected Application button in the top right.

5. As you proceed through the Proposal you will be asked to enter various information. When you have completed a section, you can proceed to the next set of questions by clicking the Save and Continue to Next Section button in the top right.

6. Of note, you will be asked to name the Principal Investigator of the study and any other staff/researchers that will be performing work. To select a person for these roles you will click the Add User button in the appropriate space.
Note: The person filling out the form does not need to be the PI. Only one PI may be selected. For other roles, multiple people may be selected.

7. When selecting a PI or other staff member, you will be brought to a page to search for the appropriate person. Enter relevant information and click Find. This will bring up a list of University employees and students to select. Make your selection by clicking the green check mark, or by checking the Check for Multiple box next to each person you want added and then click the Save Selected User(s) button in the top right.
Note: If your proposal includes someone who will be working with animals that isn’t a part of the University, and doesn’t have a sponsored account, there will be a question later where you may name them and their role in your project.

8. While filling out your Proposal you will run into tables which can have multiple rows of input. To fill out these tables click the Add a new row button and fill out the row as needed.
Note: If you are filling out one of these tables with an exceptional amount of input, you may wish to occasionally save to the next section and return to reduce the risk of losing some of your entries in the event of an error. A save option that doesn’t require going to the next section will be added in the near future.

9. As you continue through the form, you will notice a list of the various sections growing in the left navigation. You can go back to a previous section at any point by clicking it.
Clicking the Back button in the top right will return you to the home screen, if you wish to take a break. Just be sure you’ve saved and continued if you entered any new information in the section!

10. When you reach the end of the form, the system will go back to check if there are any required fields you haven’t entered yet. At this point you will be asked to go back and provide the relevant information. You can do so easily by clicking the red validation text, which will return you to the section with the item in question.
If your Proposal passes this validation check you will be moved into a new form, called the Initial Review Submission Packet. This additional form will provide a location to attach additional documents important to the Proposal, as well as provide additional information to the IACUC.

11. If you decide you want to go back to your Proposal, but are already in the Initial Review Submission Packet, you may do so by clicking the Back button in the top right.
This will take you to the home page mentioned earlier. In the Study Assistant you can select My Studies and in that window find the Proposal in question.
Click the Click to open button in the row with the Proposal you want to return to, and on the next page click the Study Application link. You will be put back into your main Proposal.

12. Once you’ve completed the Initial Review Submission Packet you can click the Signoff and Submit button to begin the signoff process.

13. The first page will show the PI
The first page will show the PI. Save and Continue, as the PI should always be required in signoff and they are selected to by default.

14. The next page will allow you to include others in the signoff
The next page will allow you to include others in the signoff. Please be aware that your proposal will not reach the IACUC until ALL of the selected individuals have performed their signoff.
The chairperson of the department you selected when starting the Proposal will be shown by default, though they are not selected. To get your Proposal to the IACUC in the timeliest manner possible do not select any additional people to signoff.

15. You will be asked to confirm that all people needed to signoff have been selected. Click Save and Continue.

16. The Signoff page will show a list of attestations regarding your Proposal. After reading the attestations, if you agree with them and the information stated in the Proposal, click the Yes radio button, the Approve radio button, enter your University username and password, and click the Save Signoff button.

17. If all signoffs have been completed you will see that your Proposal has been sent to the IACUC!