First, we at the IRB office and throughout the UAMS/ACH research community want to thank all of our members for their IRB service. We know that you have a lot going on in your lives, and we are grateful for the not-inconsiderable time and effort you devote to your IRB obligations. Our longest-term members may […]
Important Reminders About Emergency Use of a Test Article
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has strict requirements regarding the emergency use of test articles to treat patients. Failure to follow those requirements can create big headaches for investigators and institutions. Here’s a refresher on some of the key elements of emergency use of test articles. First, emergency use, per the FDA regulation at […]
A glorious day in the world of Certificate of Confidentiality procurement
Oct. 1 is when the new policy pertaining to NIH’s issuance of certificates of confidentiality (CoC) takes effect, according to a recent NIH Blog post. Under the new policy, CoCs “will be issued automatically to NIH funded grants, cooperative agreements, contracts and intramural research projects research funded wholly or in part by the NIH that […]
Vulnerable subjects under the revised Common Rule
The revised Common Rule’s changing definition of vulnerable populations is the focus of Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) director Eliza Hurley’s most recent PRIM&R blog post. Dr. Hurley has some interesting comments about the removal of pregnant women as a vulnerable population, a change she describes as “welcome and long overdue.” She also […]
Those separate “letters to the IRB” we see in CLARA files
We love hearing from our researchers; we really do. But here’s a tip that may save you a bit of extra work when submitting modifications, and contingency responses. We often notice investigators send in separate letters to the IRB explaining something in their CLARA submission. Unless that letter includes information that’s not addressed elsewhere in […]
Say hello to the new IRB staffer, Ashley Block
The IRB has welcomed Ashley Block to its office staff. Ashley has worked in research and research administration for more than 15 years at UAMS. For the past 7 years, she was the Project Manager at the Research Division of the Section of Birth Defects in the College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics at UAMS. She […]
Using surgically removed tissue specimens in research
Some research projects anticipate the use of tissue that has been removed surgically. If you plan to use fresh tissue in a research project, please remember that UAMS Policy requires most tissue to be cleared through the Hospital Pathology Department before it can be used for research. There are a few exceptions – they’re listed […]
A reminder about consent form reading levels
Just a friendly note from your local IRB reminding research team to try to make informed consent materials read at somewhere in the grades 4 through 8 range. We know that sounds like a low reading level, but in most cases, it’s doable. It’s also appropriate for most studies. Health literacy can be low in […]
Following up with Stanford Prison Experiment participants, and some commentary on behavioral research in general
The Stanford Prison Experiment, which occurred in August 1971, is one of those projects that gets mentioned in basically ALL educational material addressing research ethics. We know a lot about the study’s general outlines, but we don’t hear a lot directly from the people involved anymore. A Stanford publication recently made a 2011 article about […]
Minimal risk research, the FDA, and consent waivers and alterations
Well, while we freely admit to muttering under our breath about some FDA research requirements, we want to take this opportunity to shout from the rooftops about a new FDA guidance indicating the agency will not object to the IRB waiving or altering informed consent requirements in some minimal risk research. This guidance – which […]