CCTR and Tompkins-McCaw Library Sponsor IRB-Focused Seminar

June 1, 2016 by Wright Center

The VCU C. Kenneth and Dianne Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research and Tompkins-McCaw Library co-sponsored a research seminar titled, “The IRB: the Exempt, the Expedited, and the Full-Board,” on Wednesday, May 25 from noon to 1:00 p.m. at Tompkins-McCaw library.

The seminar, presented by Monika Markowitz, Ph.D., M.A., M.S.N, R.N., director of research integrity and ethics for the VCU Office of Research, and Elizabeth “Betsy” Ripley, M.D., M.S., IRB chair/associate chair for faculty for the VCU Department of Internal Medicine, discussed the regulatory review required for research at VCU.

“In the medical field, there is a lot of discussion about the questions and problems that exist in science, but how do we move from that thought to good clinical research?” said Ripley.

The government defines research as “a systematic investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.”

Broken down, Ripley and Markowitz explained how to fit the government’s definition of research, work must be conducted using planned, scientific methods with the intent to contribute to knowledge in the field or discipline.

The presentation, equipped with case study examples and audience-posed questions, challenged participants to decide if hypothetical scenarios could be considered research or human subjects research and, if so, whether they needed IRB-approval or additional levels of review.

Click here to view the full presentation.

Note: In July the local VCU IRB will change from four separate IRB panels to one single panel which will meet weekly. Study teams should consider attending the panel meeting to answer questions or discuss issues.