HRPP/IRB Bulletin

March 31, 2023

Hot Off the Press

Reliance In-Service Workshop


The Human Protection Program (HRPP) will be offering an in-service Reliance workshop on April 27th from 12pm-1pm. Register at: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMtduGorzMvGNVLEXHUOXH_Lyh5wXsSg8O6


Providing compensation to your research participants via ClinCard? Check out these updates!


The HRPP and Clinical Trials Office have updated the ClinCard website and ClinCard consent addendum.



Planning to Submit to the IRB? Check out These Helpful Tools

 

The Rutgers' Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) offers several interactive resources to provide guidance and recommendations to investigators preparing a submission to the Rutgers IRB. 


The IRB Review Type and Template Recommendation Tool is a Qualtrics-based tool developed by the Rutgers IRB that uses branching logic to: 


  • Recommend which Rutgers Templates to utilize and indicate the level and type of IRB review that a study may qualify for.


  • Determine a non-Rutgers site’s degree of involvement and/or engagement in research within a Rutgers research study.


  • Provide a self-certification mechanism to evaluate whether a project or activity may qualify as non-human subjects research or a quality assurance/quality improvement (QAQI) activity. 


A Rutgers Net ID is required to access these tools. 


To report broken/expired links, please email irbprereview@research.rutgers.edu.


Learn more at: https://research.rutgers.edu/researcher-support/research-compliance/human-research-protection-program/interactive-irb-resources


Pre-Review Service Announcement


Are your documents ready for IRB review? The Pre-Review Service may be just what you need to confirm your readiness for review.


The Rutgers’ Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) offers a Pre-Review Service to all investigators. This service is designed to improve submission outcomes and cut down on the back-and-forth between the IRB and the investigative team.


Use of the Pre-Review Service is optional* and easy to use.


When you engage in Pre-Review Services, you will have the assistance of highly knowledgeable IRB and HRPP staff, as well as key Committee Members on the IRB. All Pre-Review services include feedback for all study documents, access to individuals with subject matter expertise, and education on best practices for a successful submission and review.


Have questions? Contact the team at: irbprereview@research.rutgers.edu or visit our informational site at: https://research.rutgers.edu/researcher-support/research-compliance/human-research-protection-program/irb-pre-review-service


In some instances, the IRB may require that the study team consult with the Pre-Review Team prior to re-submitting to the IRB.

Interested in Becoming an IRB Member

Do you (or someone you know) have an interest in biomedical or social science research? Or do you know someone from the community that might be interested in serving as a community member on the Rutgers IRB? Would you (or they) like to be involved with protecting the rights, safety, and welfare of individuals who volunteer to participate in research?


Please read more information online about IRB Membership or by contacting our Training and Communications Manager, Michelle Watkinson, CIP.



Interested in Being a Featured Board Member in a Future Issue of this Bulletin?


Share your background, interests, and area(s) of expertise by being a featured board member in an upcoming issue of the HRPP/IRB Bulletin


Please contact Claribel Vega @claribel.vega@rutgers.edu or Angela Cartmell-McGlynn if interested.


HRPP Website


Website Revisions



 


AAHRPP Accreditation Updates

The Rutgers University has earned full accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP).

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ClinicalTrials.gov News


Clinical Trial Results Delayed Submission:

Good Cause Extension

 

Applicable clinical trials (ACTs) and NIH-funded clinical trials are required to officially submit results to clinicaltrials.gov no later than 1 year after the study’s Primary Completion Date. However, a responsible party may request an extension of the deadline for submitting clinical trial results information for good cause. (See definition of “good cause" in section III.).

 

A request of Good Cause Extension (GCE) can be submitted via the ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System (PRS) prior to the date results would be due (i.e., the day before), and must include:

  1. A complete description of reason(s) why results information cannot be provided according to deadline, with sufficient detail to justify good cause and to allow for NIH evaluation of the request, AND
  2. An estimated date for submission of results information.

 

Once the request is reviewed, the NIH will issue a determination via email to the responsible parties. There are 3 outcomes of a GCE request:



  • Granted: NIH granted the new deadline as requested.
  • Granted with modification: NIH identified a submission deadline that is earlier than the requested submission date. In this instance, the responsible party must update the record before the Results Expected Date to reflect the modified submission date.
  • Denied: NIH determined that GCE request did not constitute “good cause”. As a result, the responsible party is still bound by the original results reporting deadline with no extension.

 

NIH-funded awardees should take into considerations that any GCE request could impact other aspects of the contract or grant award. Communicating to your grants manager or contracting officer is strongly encouraged.

 

For detailed information on the application process, as well as what can be considered a good cause for extension, please read the Good Cause Extension Request Process and Criteria. For assistance with any ClinicalTrials.gov questions, contact Rutgers ClinicalTrials.gov Support at rutgersctgsupport@research.rutgers.edu.

Single IRB News


All Things Reliance:


The Reliance page of the HRPP website has been updated! These updates include the addition of three charts to assist with the submission process of Administrative Review, Advarra IRB and WCG IRB application(s). The charts can be found in the respective sections referenced below on the HRPP Website: Reliance - External IRBs | Rutgers Research



  • The Administrative Review Flowchart is designed to help Rutgers University Principal Investigator(s) select the appropriate eIRB submission type when Rutgers University has ceded review of their research study to an external IRB acting as the Reviewing IRB*. The flowchart can be found in the “Administrative Review Submission Guidance” tab.
  • The WCG IRB Submission Chart is designed to help Rutgers University Principal Investigator(s) when to submit to eIRB and/or WCG IRB (formerly WIRB) based on the application type. The submission chart can be found in the “WCG IRB Study Submissions” tab.
  • The Advarra IRB Submission Chart is designed to help Rutgers University Principal Investigator(s) with the order of submission between eIRB and Advarra IRB based on the application type. The submission chart can be found in the “Advarra IRB Study Submissions” tab.

 

Reliance Workshop


The Human Research Protections Program (HRPP) is offering a Reliance workshop on Thursday, April 27 from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm. The session will focus on understanding the IRB Reliance Mechanisms. Researchers, faculty and students are invited to learn more about our streamlined reliance processes for Single IRB (sIRB) and Administrative Review submissions to the IRB.

Register at: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMtduGorzMvGNVLEXHUOXH_Lyh5wXsSg8O6

Quality Assurance & Evaluation


What to do if you have a complaint or concern regarding a research study?

  

 

The Quality Assurance and Evaluation team, as well as the entire Human Research Protection Program, is concerned about the safety, rights, and welfare of all individuals participating in research at Rutgers and its affiliated sites.

 

We encourage anyone who has any research-related concerns, complaints, or allegations of any kind to report it to us. Our team is here to assist in resolving any concerns or complaints, as well as investigate any allegations of misconduct.

 

We take all research concerns or complaints very seriously. We also understand that reporting a concern or a complaint may be difficult, even intimidating at times.  In an effort to respect the privacy and confidentiality of all parties involved, it is our policy to keep any personally identifiable details confidential. Specifically, your identifiable information will never be disclosed to any parties involved in the research, and we will keep any information shared that could be linked to you confidential to the greatest extent possible. Your information would only be accessible by our office to assure that we clearly understand your concern or complaint, and in cases where we may require additional clarification.


If you have a research-related concern or complaint, you can contact our office directly by phone at 732-235-2866 or by sending an email to IRBOffice@research.rutgers.edu.

 

You can also reach out to the Office of Ethics and compliance hot-line at 833-RU-ETHICS.

 

For assistance please contact:


Andrea Dragan, Quality Assurance and Evaluation Director

andrea.dragan@rutgers.edu


Barbara LoDico, Quality Improvement Senior Analyst  

Barbara.lodico@research.rutgers.edu


Kathleen Villipiano, Compliance Administrator

Smithk6@research.rutgers.edu  

Education and Training Opportunities


eIRB Virtual Training Workshops Sessions will include a step-by-step tutorial on the electronic submission system, eIRB and Q&A.



These workshops are open to Rutgers faculty, staff, and/or students regardless of campus location or specific Rutgers IRB of Record.




Upcoming eIRB Workshops (all dates available online):   


  • Tuesday, April 4th at 11:30am
  • Monday, April 17th at 2:30pm
  • Thursday, May 4th at 11:30am
  • Monday, May 18th at 2:30pm
  • Wednesday, June 7th at 11:30 am 
  • Tuesday, June 20th at 2:30 pm 



Education Items

 

(some articles might require subscription access) 

 

The articles below highlight the importance of Belmont Report's Ethical Principles of Respect for Persons (operationalized by informed consent), Beneficence (operationalized by minimalization of harms while increasing benefits), and Justice (which is meant to promote equitable representation in research in terms of fairly distributing the risks and benefits of research):    

 

New Resources Available on Protecting Participant Privacy When Sharing Scientific Data (NIH Extramural Nexus)  

See: https://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/2023/03/13/new-resources-available-on-protecting-participant-privacy-when-sharing-scientific-data/

 

Data Management and Sharing Plan vs. Resource Sharing Plan (NIH Extramural Nexus) The Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan and Resource Sharing Plan are separate attachments that may be required for your application. One does not necessarily replace the other….Please refer to the application instructions on the  How to Apply – Application Guide page and the funding opportunity for additional requirements.


More information on NIH sharing policies can be found on the  NIH scientific data sharing site.  https://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/2023/03/20/data-management-and-sharing-plan-vs-resource-sharing-plan/

 

Ending After May 11, 2023: Common Rule Exceptions to the Use of a Single IRB for Multi-site Research (NIH Extramural Nexus) The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is  planning for the Federal  Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, to expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023.  The extramural community is reminded that as of that date NIH will no longer be able to grant single IRB exceptions for multi-site research that is subject to the revised Common Rule cooperative research provision under the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) Determination of “Exception to the Single IRB Review Requirements for Certain HHS-Conducted or -Supported Cooperative Research Activities Subject to the 2018 Requirements During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency.”  


https://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/2023/03/02/ending-after-may-11-2023-common-rule-exceptions-to-the-use-of-a-single-irb-for-multi-site-research/

 

Researchers Need to Rethink and Justify How and Why Race, Ethnicity, and Ancestry Labels Are Used in Genetics and Genomics Research, Says New Report (National Academies) The report says researchers should not use race as a proxy for describing human genetic variation. Race is a social concept, but it is often used in genomics and genetics research as a surrogate for describing human genetic differences, which is misleading, inaccurate, and harmful. To improve genomics research, the report presents a new framework and decision tree to help researchers choose descriptors and labels that are most appropriate for their study.  


https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2023/03/researchers-need-to-rethink-and-justify-how-and-why-race-ethnicity-and-ancestry-labels-are-used-in-genetics-and-genomics-research-says-new-report

 

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