Using SMART IRB to comply with NIH policy on multi-site research

The Policy

Beginning September 25, 2017, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will require the use of a single Institutional Review Board (IRB); or that a single IRB (sIRB) of record be used in the ethical review of non-exempt human subjects research protocols funded by the NIH that are carried out at more than one site in the United States. This policy is intended to streamline the IRB review process in the context of multi-site research so that research can proceed as effectively and expeditiously as possible without diminishing human subject’s protections. Review the full NIH Single IRB Review policy here.

The Solution

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) has funded the design and implementation of a new platform: SMART IRB.

Video created by Smart IRB

Learn More

“Freely available for institutions and investigators, SMART IRB is an integrated, comprehensive platform that allows flexibility in the size and scope of collaboration to enable IRB reliance for multi-site studies across the nation, regardless of funding status. This collaborative effort built upon existing regional networks for IRB reliance to develop a master IRB reliance agreement and standard operating procedures (SOPs) suitable for use across the nation.” (From Smartirb.org)

The University of Washington, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and other local institutions have already joined the 150+ participating organizations.