UW IRB as a Single IRB
Contents
When will UW serve as the single IRB
These guidelines describe when UW is able to serve as the single IRB (sIRB) for multi-institutional research funded or supported by any federal agency, except the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Except under the terms of existing cooperative agreements and in unique circumstances approved by HSD management, the UW IRB is not able to serve as the single IRB when:
- The study is industry-sponsored-and-initiated, or
- The study is not federally funded or supported, or
- UW is not engaged in the research, or
- UW has determined that the study is exempt.
These criteria are intended as a reference for researchers who are planning multi-institutional research and should be considered as general guidelines, not rules. Researchers are encouraged to consult with HSD at hsdrely@uw.edu to confirm any single IRB plans when preparing funding applications. HSD cannot guarantee UW IRB review for any multi-institutional research for which it has not been consulted. HSD will assess each multi-institutional study and work with the PI to determine the appropriate single IRB arrangement. The unique aspects of a study as well as the following factors may impact HSD’s decision:
- Whether the study should be reviewed by another IRB under the terms of a cooperative agreement
- The relationship of the study to other studies (for example, parent and sub-studies)
- Whether a study requires expedited or full board review
- Whether the UW IRB has sufficient expertise to review the research
- The number of sites
- The complexity of the review
When is UW able to serve as the single IRB? | |
---|---|
UW is the prime (direct) awardee. Other institutions are receiving subawards from UW. and/or UW is the formally designated regulatory Coordinating Center. |
Almost always.
Exceptions:
If UW cannot serve as the single IRB, HSD will work with the PI to identify and pursue other options. |
UW is one of multiple prime (direct) awardees with no clear lead or coordinating institution. (For example, NIH Multiple PI designation, NSF Co-PI designation) | Case-by-case basis.
Dependent on:
|
Prime awardee is another institution without an IRB. UW is receiving funding via a subaward (e.g. SBIR, STTR) | Case-by-case basis. In many cases, HSD may consider the prime awardee responsible for contracting with an appropriate independent IRB.
Dependent on:
|
Prime awardee is another institution with an IRB. UW is receiving funding via a subaward. | Almost never. HSD considers the prime awardee responsible for providing IRB review in most cases.
Exceptions:
|
Other funding situations |
Case-by-case basis.
Dependent on:
|
What does HSD charge for single IRB review?
At this time, in general, HSD does not charge fees for IRB review. In some circumstances, for example for very large or complex studies, HSD may request that investigators provide support for the incremental (increased) costs directly attributable to establishing and conducting the sIRB review and oversight for the non-UW participating institutions. In these cases, HSD management will work directly with researchers to establish the mechanism for, and the amount of, the support.
Are there any other budget considerations?
It is important for UW researchers to plan for the additional staffing resources to successfully coordinate sIRB review. HSD’s Zipline application system is only accessible to individuals with UW NetIDs. Because of this, the UW study team will need to prepare and submit all materials on behalf of the non-UW institutions, as well as communicate information from the UW IRB to the institutions. This may require additional resources such as the Single IRB Liaison role.
What to expect when working with UW as the single IRB
When planning to work with UW as the sIRB, researchers should be aware that:
- To facilitate sIRB arrangements, UW has established reliance agreements with several other regional institutions. Additionally, UW is a SMART Participating Institution. However, this does not mean that the reliance process for each study is complete. Each non-UW institution must formally document their agreement to rely on the UW IRB for each study.
- All PIs from non-UW institutions relying on the UW IRB must follow HSD’s requirements for reporting problems and other information that may impact the IRB’s determinations. They are also responsible for following their institution’s reporting requirements, for example for reporting breaches of confidentiality under HIPAA.
Find more information about the application process at Steps in the Single IRB Review Process.