How does the IRB make its decisions?
Upon electronic receipt of an application from the Principal
Investigator, the IRB Chair vets the application materials, checking
whether the application is complete and whether the materials contain
any obvious errors, omissions, or other qualities that would merit
non-approval.
If
the IRB Chair determines that the application is complete and lacks
any disqualifying features, the Chair forwards all application
materials via email to the members of the IRB Committee. (Exception: Requests
for renewal of IRB approval typically are not distributed to members of
the IRB Committee. See below for a description of the procedure for
renewal applications.)
If the application is either
incomplete or contains disqualifying features, the Chair emails a
request for resubmission to the Principal Investigator along with a
list of recommended improvements; upon receipt of revised application
materials, the IRB Chair once again vets the application.
Requests for
Exempted or Expedited Reviews: After the IRB Chair
distributes vetted applications for exemption from review or expedited
review to the IRB Committee, members of the committee have five
business days to relay any concerns or objections to the IRB Chair.
If
there are no qualms about the application, the IRB Chair
notifies the Principal Investigator via email that the application is
approved and mails an approval letter.
If there are qualms,
the IRB Chair relays a summary of the concerns to the Principal
Investigator and awaits submission of corrected application
materials; upon receipt of such materials, the IRB Chair determines
whether the qualms have been addressed and proceeds accordingly.
Requests for Full
Review: After the IRB Chair distributes vetted
applications for full review to the IRB Committee, members of the
committee convene in person within two weeks to discuss the
application.
If
there are
no qualms about the application, the
IRB Chair notifies the Principal Investigator via email that the
application is approved and mails an approval letter.
If
there are
qualms, the IRB Chair relays a summary of the concerns to the Principal
Investigator and awaits submission of corrected application
materials;
upon receipt of such materials, the IRB Chair determines whether the
qualms have been addressed and proceeds accordingly.
Requests for
Renewal: Upon receipt of an application from the Principle
Investigator for renewal of a previously approved application, the IRB
Chair determines within five business days whether the application is
complete and whether it merits approval.
If
the application is either incomplete or does not merit approval, the
IRB Chair relays any concerns to the Principle Investigator and awaits
submission of corrected application materials.
When the IRB
Chair determines that the application is complete and merits approval,
the
Chair notifies
the Principal Investigator via email that the application is approved
and mails an approval letter.
You may email any questions about the application process to Dr.
Nicholaos Jones, IRB Chair, at irb@uah.edu.
Please include the phrase <Application
Question> in your subject line.