Cayuse Training Resources
Research Integrity & Compliance (RIC) offers guides, videos, and personalized support to helpyou navigate Cayuse Human Ethics. Select a resource below to get started.
Cayuse Human Ethics
Cayuse Human Ethics is the electronic system that SMU uses for the submission and
management of Institutional Review Board (IRB) studies for research involving human subjects.
Cayuse Human Ethics allows faculty, staff, and student investigators to:
- Prepare and submit new human subjects research applications
- Route applications electronically for IRB review and approval
- Submit modifications and continuing reviews (renewals)
- Report incidents and other required updates
Questions? Contact Research Integrity & Compliance (RIC) at researchcompliance@smu.edu.
you navigate Cayuse Human Ethics. Select a resource below to get started.
Cayuse Human Ethics User Guide
Use the step-by-step user guide for help navigating Cayuse Human Ethics and managing your
IRB submissions. This PDF guide includes instructions for creating and submitting studies,
responding to requested revisions and managing your study after approval.
Cayuse Video Tutorials
Prefer to see the process in action? Our short video tutorials walk you through common tasks in Cayuse Human Ethics.
How to Start a New IRB Application in Cayuse:
1:1 Cayuse Compliance Consultation
Need additional help with Cayuse? Schedule a 1:1 Cayuse Compliance Consultation with a RIC
team member for personalized assistance navigating the system or working through your
submission.
Consultations can help with questions about using Cayuse, locating the appropriate submission,
navigating the application, understanding the submission process, or other IRB questions.
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Cayuse Account Access
SMU faculty and staff can access Cayuse using their SMU Single Sign-On (SSO) credentials.
However, active SMU students who need to use Cayuse or be added to a research study must first
submit a Cayuse Account Request Form.
Have a study that was previously in Axiom Mentor?
Active IRB studies were transitioned from Axiom Mentor to Cayuse Human Ethics when Cayuse launched on March 30, 2026. If you are working with a study originally approved in Axiom Mentor, see the scenarios below for more information.All active human subjects research studies as of March 30, 2026 have been migrated from Axiom Mentor to Cayuse Human Ethics. The studies that were approved in Axiom Mentor and migrated to Cayuse are referred to as “Legacy Studies.”
Legacy Studies:
- A “shell” study form was created in Cayuse for each Legacy Study. The shell includes basic information such as project personnel, project title, project number, approval date, and a PDF copy of the approved Axiom Mentor study documentation.
- Legacy Study documents (e.g., Axiom Mentor protocol, Axiom Mentor approval letters) are being uploaded to Cayuse on a rolling basis. RIC maintains copies of all legacy documents and can provide them upon request.
Substantive Modifications and Renewals
- If a researcher needs to submit a substantive modification (modification beyond study personnel updates), the Legacy Study form must first be “backfilled” in Cayuse.
- Backfilling is completed by submitting a Modification and completing the Basic Information section of the application, which will trigger additional required questions based on the type of research being performed. The research team must then enter the study information into Cayuse (including any proposed modifications) and submit.
- Researchers may complete this process themselves or contact Research Integrity & Compliance (RIC) for assistance. A RIC team member can initiate a draft Modification Submission and pre-populate as much information as possible, based on the approved Axiom Mentor study. The study team will then be notified to complete any remaining required fields and submit.
Personnel Modifications and Incident Reports
- If a researcher only needs to submit updates to SMU study personnel or an Incident Report on a Legacy Study, the backfill process is not required.
For further guidance on submitting a study modification or reporting an incident, please refer to the
Cayuse Human Ethics User Guide.
All active human subjects research studies as of March 30, 2026 have been migrated from Axiom Mentor to Cayuse Human Ethics. If you cannot locate your study in Cayuse, contact researchcompliance@smu.edu.
Available Legacy Study documents are maintained with the study record in Cayuse. RIC also maintains copies of Legacy Study documentation originally approved in Axiom Mentor and can provide copies upon request.
If you need a document that is not available in your Cayuse study record, contact researchcompliance@smu.edu.
Common Questions
Cayuse Human Ethics (HE) is a web-based application used to draft, submit, review, approve, and manage IRB Studies. This system replaces Axiom Mentor. Submissions can be accessed through the Cayuse website on any internet-connected device.
Log in to Cayuse at: https://smu.app.cayuse.com/ using your SMU Single-Sign-On (SSO) credentials.
From the Products dropdown (top right), select Human Ethics.
For further navigation guidance, please refer to the Cayuse Human Ethics User Guide.
Any SMU Cayuse user may create and submit an IRB Study. A Principal Investigator (PI) must be assigned to the Study, and the PI must certify the Initial Submission before it is routed for IRB review. If the PI is a student, the Faculty Advisor must certify before it is routed for IRB review. For an approved Study, any listed Project Personnel may submit Modifications, Renewals, or Incident Reports, but the PI (or Faculty Advisor, if the PI is a student) must certify the new submission before it is routed for IRB review.
The system sends automated email notifications to the PI, Primary Contact(s), and Faculty Advisor when action is required. Examples include requests for responses to IRB reviewer comments and reminders that a Study is approaching its renewal deadline.