External Collaborators and IRBs
Reliance agreements are a mechanism in place for one IRB to rely on another for non-exempt research. Reliance agreements reduce the need for multiple IRBs to review a single study, reduce administrative burden and generally speedy approval time between institutions. Most IRBs are willing to use a reliance process. There are three options for ensuring that investigators from multiple institutions are covered by an IRB approval for a single study:
- The OSU IRB can rely on an external institution's IRB review.
- The OSU IRB can review the study and the external institution can rely on the OSU IRB's review.
- Each institution's IRB can oversee the research separately (except for non-exempt, NIH-funded research)
All investigators conducting human subjects research must be covered by an IRB approval or exempt determination regardless of their affiliation with OSU. To determine which investigators should be listed on the OSU application, you can contact the HRPP Office at [email protected].
OSU is also a member of the SMART IRB reliance system. If you are collaborating with researchers at another SMART IRB member institution, you may need to provide information through the SMART IRB Platform as well. The HRPP office will provide additional instructions during the review process.
OSU does not enter into reliance agreements for exempt studies. External collaborators on exempt studies must submit to their home IRB and obtain their own determination.
Unaffiliated External Investigators
If external collaborators are not affiliated with an IRB they can be covered via an Individual Investigator Agreement for exempt and non-exempt studies.
Collaborating with OHSU or Samaritan Health Services
The OSU IRB has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that enables OSU to rely on OHSU or SHS under the following circumstances:
- Research that recruits and enrolls OHSU/SHS research subjects, or
- Research that is conducted by faculty with joint OHSU/OSU appointments, or
- Applications for which OHSU/SHS is either the primary or sub-awardee on a grant or contract, so long as OHSU/SHS is considered engaged in research as defined by the Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP).
To request that the OSU IRB rely on the OHSU or SHS IRB, the OSU PI will submit an initial application in Cayuse HE, and indicate in the "External Collaboration" section that OSU will rely on the OHSU or SHS IRB, and attach the protocol and approval documents from the OHSU or SHS IRB.
After OSU cedes oversight, it is the PI’s responsibility to ensure that OSU receives updated copies of approvals and approved documents from OHSU or SHS