Because the UAMS IRB meets only on the first four Tuesdays of every month, there will be no meeting on Dec. 29th, which is a fifth Tuesday. If you have something awaiting review, the next available agenda is for Tuesday, Jan. 5. Looking ahead to 2016, we notice that March, May, and August all have […]
Research News
Investigators, study staff, research administrators — keep up with research happenings in our Research News and Tips blog. Reminders for working with the Institutional Review Board, Clinical Research Administration (CLARA) tips, educational opportunities — we’ll post all that, and more, on this blog.
Remember — Only one form at a time can be open in CLARA
CLARA generally allows only one form at a time to be under IRB review. This restriction means, for example, you can’t submit a modification on a study until your new submission is approved, or, importantly, you can’t submit a continuing review (CR) form while a modification is outstanding. The only exceptions are that CLARA will […]
A new way to check your study submission’s progress in CLARA
CLARA has always given you an overview of your whole study’s progress through the submission and review process via the “History” tab. The new “Timeline” option can quickly update you on a particular form’s progress. To access the timeline, log into your study in CLARA, click on the form you’re interested in, and then look […]
Time’s running out to get that second half-hour of CRS credit
The most recent online blog quiz that allows you to earn 0.5 hours of Certified Research Specialist education credits will only be available for a few more weeks. We’ll post a new quiz in January, but we don’t want you to miss this opportunity to a half-hour closer to meeting your CRS requirements. Remember, you […]
“Exempt” may not mean what you think it means
Exempt – in the dictionary, it means “not subject to or bound by a rule.” That definition does not apply to IRB-land, however. Studies that qualify for exempt review status are still subject to IRB oversight and must be submitted through CLARA. “Exempt,” in this case, means that a study is not subject to the usual […]
Tips and tools for drafting a consent form that sails through the IRB
Many (but by no means all) human subject research studies require using a written informed consent form to document the subjects’ agreement to participate. Federal regulations and IRB policies have specific requirements for the information that must be conveyed during the informed consent process, and when you’re using a written consent form, that form should […]
Hints to Get Your Studies Approved Faster
Yes, the UAMS Institutional Review Board looks at the big things when it reviews studies — are risks to subjects minimized? Are there appropriate provisions for obtaining the informed consent of subjects? etc. etc. But the little things can also slow down your study’s trek towards Institutional Review Board approval. Have you tracked your changes in […]
How Do I Submit Something to the Institutional Review Board? FAQs
We get a lot of queries from people who are new to research asking about how to submit something to the UAMS Institutional Review Board. Here is a rundown of the most frequently asked questions related to Institutional Review Board submissions, and their responses. Does my project need Institutional Review Board review? Submit a human […]
Are your students/residents/fellows flummoxed by the IRB process?
Many UAMS students, residents, and/or fellows must complete a research project as part of their education. The research project part, they can cope with. The IRB submission process that precedes the research project, on the other hand, seems weird and mysterious and maybe a little unnerving to them. IRB staffers are happy to provide information about […]
Why we ask you to submit something through CLARA…
Researchers are encouraged to get in touch with the IRB office whenever they have a question. We’re happy to take queries by phone or email, and to provide guidance regarding IRB submissions when appropriate. Some queries are best handled through a submission process in CLARA, however. The big one is, “Does my project need IRB […]