The UPD REB is an institutional board under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD). It ensures that all research involving human participants conducted under the auspices of UP Diliman adheres to ethical principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice, and complies with the National Ethical Guidelines for Research Involving Human Participants (NEGRIHP, 2022).
Yes. The UPD REB is Level 1 accredited by the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB). As a Level 1 accredited REB, UPD REB may review minimal-risk (Level 1) studies only. Protocols involving more than minimal risk (Level 2) or clinical trials must be submitted to a PHREB Level 2 or 3 accredited Research Ethics Committee. Level 2 protocols include studies involving indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples.
Currently, the UPD REB only accepts submissions from within the University of the Philippines Diliman or from research projects under the auspices of UPD units, faculty, staff, or students. External researchers without an official UPD affiliation or collaboration are not yet eligible to submit for review.
Full Board meetings are held monthly. The schedule of upcoming Full Board meetings is posted on the UPD REB Home Page. Submissions that pass administrative screening and are deemed for Full Board Review are automatically queued for the next meeting.
Cut-off dates for submissions (for inclusion in the next Full Board meeting) are also posted on the UPD REB Home Page. Protocols submitted after the cut-off will be included in the following month’s review cycle.
All research conducted by UP Diliman faculty, staff, students, or collaborators that involves:
Human participants or their data/biological materials, or
Secondary use of identifiable or potentially identifiable data must obtain REB review or exemption before data collection. This covers thesis, dissertation, extension, and externally funded projects.
Yes. Studies posing no more than minimal risk and meeting NEGRIHP (2022) criteria, such as educational assessments, institutional QA studies, or analysis of publicly available data, may be exempted from ethical review. Submit Form 2(J): Checklist for Exemption, which will be evaluated by the REB Chair.
No. The UPD REB currently does not accept external submissions. Only studies by UP Diliman faculty, staff, students, or official collaborators may be submitted for review. Once the REB starts accepting external submissions, it will be posted on our website.
The REB accepts:
Initial Review – new study protocols
Resubmission – responses to REB comments
Post-Approval Submissions – continuing review, amendments, noncompliance, termination, final reports
Exemption – for minimal-risk studies that have been classified as exempted
Appeals for Reconsideration – to contest REB decisions
Non-Study Protocol-Related Communications – for general or administrative queries
All submissions are made online through the designated UPD REB Google Forms. Only entries received through these forms are officially recorded and acted upon. Ensure that forms and PDF attachments are complete and properly named.
A complete submission includes:
Forms 2A–2D (Checklist, Registration, Protocol Assessment, Informed Consent Assessment)
Full study protocol
Data collection tools/instruments
CVs and recent ethics training certificates (within 3 years)
Technical Review
Relevant agreements or permits (MOA, MTA, partner REB clearance, etc.)
Incomplete submissions will not proceed to review. For more details, please proceed to the Submission page.
Classification depends on risk level, participant vulnerability, data type, and intervention:
Exempted Review – minimal risk, meets NEGRIHP criteria
Expedited Review – minimal risk, reviewed by assigned reviewers
Full Board Review – greater than minimal risk or complex protocols
Estimated turnaround times:
Exempted Review: 2–3 weeks after screening
Expedited Review: 3–4 weeks after screening
Full Board Review: Next scheduled REB meeting (monthly)
Processing time may be extended for incomplete or unclear submissions.
Results and decisions are sent to the email address listed in your submission, and may include requests for revision, approval or exemption notice, or disapproval with explanation.
Under SOP III, approved protocols must submit:
Form 3A – Continuing Review (annual)
Form 3B – Study Protocol Amendment (before changes)
Form 3C – Noncompliance/Deviation (≤ 7 days after the deviation)
Form 3F – Reportable Negative Event (24–72 hours for serious cases)
Form 3E – Final Report (at completion)
File Form 3B: Protocol Amendment and obtain REB approval before implementation of any modifications to methods, personnel, or sites.
Conducting research without REB approval
Deviating from the approved protocol without authorization
Failing to report serious adverse events
Late submission of required reports
Report via Form 3C.
Submit Form 3A every 12 months (or as stated in the approval letter) at least 30 days before clearance expiry to avoid lapse of approval.
Submit Form 3D: Study Termination Report within 30 days of closure, stating reasons and a summary of activities. Additional documents may be requested if termination was due to ethical concerns.
For matters not related to a specific protocol, use the Non-Study Protocol-Related Communications Form.
For protocol disputes, submit Form 2(L): Appeal for Reconsideration.
Yes. A PI may submit a written appeal within 15 working days of notification.
Panel-Action appeals → Full Board review
Non-Panel appeals → Chair-level review
All records are maintained per SOP IV: Documentation and Archiving for at least three (3) years after study closure, accessible only to authorized REB personnel.
For general queries, administrative notifications, or complaints not related to a specific study protocol, please use the official online form: