OPRS Office for the Protection of Research Subjects

iStar (IRB Submission Tracking and Review) System

iStar (IRB Submission, Tracking, and Review) is the online IRB application system used to review all USC human subjects research studies. This page provides some training resources and information to successfully navigate the system.

Obtaining an iStar Account

  1. Type “iStar Account Request” in the subject line of an email
  2. Include the following in the body of the email:
    • Last, First (Middle) – please provide your name in this order
    • Campus (i.e., Health Sciences or University Park)
    • Division and Department (be specific) – if you are not sure, please provide the name of the Principal Investigator or Faculty Advisor for the study you will be working on
    • Email address
    • User role (e.g., Faculty Advisor, Principal Investigator, staff)
    • Phone number
  3. Send the email to istar@usc.edu

If you are having trouble obtaining an iStar account, or need technical help with the system please call (323) 276-2238 or email istar@usc.edu.

Current iStar Status: “Operating Normally”

This web page can be accessed at any time to see the operating status of iStar: “Operating Normally” indicates the system currently has no issues; “Partial Outage” indicates some users are having issues accessing the site; and “iStar Down” indicates the site is completely down and not accessible.

Accessing the iStar Sandbox

The iStar sandbox provides the opportunity for individuals to complete a mock IRB application. These applications mimic real applications except they are NOT REVIEWED BY THE IRB. The sandbox allows you operate in different roles: including PI, co-investigator, faculty advisor, and others. It is a useful tool for classroom instructors to give their students hands-on experience without submitting an actual application.

iStar Training Resources

The iStar website has a variety of training resources to help investigators navigate the system.

Question-by-question screen shots and guidance forthcoming.

CITI and iStar

CITI is the mandatory online human subjects education program. iStar usernames and passwords will not work in CITI, users must create a unique username and password to login to CITI. During the CITI registration process, users will be asked to input their iStar username in the demographic section so that the CITI certificate can be automatically uploaded into iStar accounts once the course is completed. CITI also provides courses in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and can be accessed here.

Getting iStar Technical Help

For help with password retrieval, obtaining an iStar account, or other iStar technical question, please contact:
Mario Sotelo
iStar Programmer / iStar Technical Support
Email: mpsotelo@usc.edu
Phone: (323) 276-2238