NIH Funding for SMART IRB Resumed

We are very happy to share that the Stop Work Order for the SMART IRB federal funding contract has been lifted, effective June 12, 2025. SMART IRB has now resumed full operations.

SMART IRB is a national initiative that eases challenges associated with multi-site research by providing free, comprehensive support for Single IRB (sIRB) arrangements. SMART IRB is 1369 institutions strong with 427 institutions having joined SMART IRB Reliance Agreement V3.0.

If you have questions about SMART IRB or any other questions about multi-site collaborations, the use of Commercial IRB, and reliance agreements, please contact the IRB Reliance Team at IRBRelianceTeam@research.rutgers.edu.

HRPP Guidance for Those Receiving a Stop Work Order from a Federal Agency

These guidelines are intended to assist investigators who may or have received a directive from a federal funding agency to stop, pause, or otherwise prematurely end a human research study.

• Send Stop-Work order questions to federal-tracking@rutgers.edu with copy to your assigned RSP Grant Specialist; you will receive a response with guidance. 
• Notify the Rutgers HRPP/IRB (if the IRB of Record is an external IRB, notify both the external IRB and the Rutgers IRB Office):
• IRBOffice@research.rutgers.edu and
• HRPP/IRB Director Dr. Swapnali Chaudhari chaudhsw@research.rutgers.edu

As a general reminder, researchers should not sign any documents related to sponsored awards. There are established review processes to ensure proper protection of the university and your research.

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for information about what is known, what the Office for Research is working to understand better, and how we move forward together.