The latest news from the Rutgers HRPP/IRB

HRPP/IRB Newsletter

February and March 2025

Contact the IRB

Contact IRB Reliance Team

Contact DRAFT Services

Contact Quality Assurance and Evaluation Team

Contact For ClinicalTrials.gov Support

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

News and Announcements

New eIRB+ HelpBot Launched

The Research HelpBot, developed by the Office for Research Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Research IT teams, will provide real-time resources and responses to researchers with guidance to facilitate IRB submissions and compliance-related matters.

It is now directly available through the eIRB+ application via NetID login.

Research HelpBot provides:

Versatile functionality by including chat search and word-based interactions.
A user-friendly interface with easy access to information and resources.
A time-saving tool with immediate access to crucial information.
An interface to minimize errors during the submission process.

Watch Research HelpBot Tutorial Video

Changes in Federal Priorities and Policies

The Office for Research (OfR) has received many questions from faculty, research staff, and research leaders regarding potential changes to federal government priorities and policies with the new administration.

As a key collaborator and partner in the federal research enterprise, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for information about what is known, what the OfR is working to understand better, and how we move forward together.

Update on Federal Award and Federal Subaward Attestations

Several university researchers have recently received requests to sign attestations for federal grants and subawards stating that their grant activities comply with recent executive orders.

If you receive a request to sign an attestation, immediately forward the document to

federal-tracking@rutgers.edu and notify your chancellor’s office or the cabinet officer in your area. Please also notify your assigned grant specialist.

The Office for Research and the Office of General Counsel will review the request and respond with instructions for you to follow.

The HRPP and IRB will be releasing guidance related to the federal actions and their impact on research.

Enhancing Community Engagement in Research

Our colleague Jeralyn Pierre, Research Regulatory Affairs Coordinator authored an article published in the December issue of National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) Magazine.

Jeralyn delves into how effective community engagement is a cornerstone of impactful research. The Rutgers Office for Research Regulatory Affairs (RRA) launched an initiative to foster stronger connections between researchers and the communities they serve by establishing a Community Advisory Board (CAB). This effort underscores RRA’s commitment to advancing research through inclusion and trust.

Read the full article here

Save the Date: 3/24/2025

Demystifying the IRB - Student Edition

Join us on Monday, March 24th from Noon to 1:00 PM for a hands-on workshop designed to introduce first-time student researchers to the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) and guide them through the Institutional Review Board (IRB) submission process.

This is a tremendous opportunity to familiarize yourself with IRB requirements and equip yourself with tools and knowledge for a successful IRB submission.

Please feel free to share this workshop with colleagues who may be interested!

If you have any questions, reach out to DRAFT Services at irbdraftservices@research.rutgers.edu.

Consult with HRPP/IRB Subject Matter Experts

Virtual Institutional Review Board (IRB) Office Hours

DRAFT (Document Revision And Feedback Team) Services hosts IRB Office Hours weekly.

When:

Tuesdays, 1 – 1:30 pm with IRB Reliance Team * No office hours will be held on Tuesday, 12/31/2024

Thursdays, 10 – 10:30 am ** No office hours will be held on Thursday, 12/26/2024

Where:

Office Hours Zoom Link

Passcode: 133269

More information on what to expect during Virtual IRB Office Hours.

The mission of the Document Review and Feedback Team (DRAFT) is to improve IRB submission outcomes by recommending and educating study teams on HRPP/IRB considerations and best practices through pre-reviews and consultations.

Learn more about DRAFT.

The IRB Reliance Team provides subject matter expertise and consultations on the IRB requirements for collaborative research.

These subject matter experts are adept at assisting study teams with navigating IRB requirements for engaging in multi-institutional research.

Learn more about Reliance.

IRB Resources

The Rutgers IRB is dedicated to finding innovative ways to support our researchers. We have a whole suite of Interactive Tools at your disposal.

Check out all of our Interactive IRB Tools here.

Still getting acquainted with the eIRB+ platform? We have Quick Guide Resources available for all eIRB+ applications to provide you with an illustrative step-by-step walkthrough of the eIRB+ applications.

eIRB+ PDF Quick Guides

Attending a virtual eIRB+ Workshop to learn more about the updates to our submission platform and business processes. The eIRB+ Workshop session offers a comprehensive walkthrough of updated features, step-by-step application tutorials, and provides an opportunity to address any questions you may have.

Visit our webpage

﻿﻿The HRPP and IRB will be releasing guidance related to the federal actions and their impact on research.

The HRPP and IRB will be releasing guidance related to the federal actions and their impact on research.