When reviewing a study you’ve been assigned for a meeting, please remember to take a look at all of the previously entered contingencies, notes, and comments. You can find these under both the “Other Committees” and “My Committee” tab. (You don’t need to look at “required changes;” those are entered by budget reviewers and others not directly involved in the IRB review process.) Contingencies and notes, and the comments under contingencies and notes, will have been entered by IRB office prereviewers, the IRB chair, and/or other IRB reviewers assigned to the study. By the time a study reaches full board review, some of the prereview contingencies will have already been met. However, some may need additional work, and prereviewers also use these notes and comments to point out areas that may need to be looked at and discussed by the IRB reviewers. We may note suggested contingencies, or ask for your input regarding whether additional changes should be made to the submission.
So when you’re reviewing studies, please don’t assume that all of the previous contingencies, notes, and comments have already been addressed and that you don’t need to worry about them at all. Instead, read them over closely and see if the IRB needs to provide additional input or request additional changes.