What is IRBNet and when does it arrive at UAA?

The Office of Research and Graduate Studies (RGS), Compliance Office and the Institutional Review Board (IRB) are pleased to announce the adoption of IRBNet.

IRBNet is a suite of online tools including electronic proposal management and online submissions for the human subjects research community. The RGS, IRB and other human subjects researchers have long recognized the need to reduce manual and paper-based procedures and to streamline proposal submission and review processes. As an important step toward these objectives, IRBNet now brings the human subjects research community a set of electronic tools supporting the management, submission, review and oversight of our IRB proposals. Some of IRBNet's many features include electronic document management, web-based proposal sharing and collaboration, automatic notifications, electronic submissions and reviews, and important audit capabilities including electronic revision histories, electronic signatures and event tracking.

UA Statewide has chosen to support IRBNet because it is secure, web-based, and easy to use. You may access IRBNet from any computer using a web browser by visiting www.irbnet.org.

Beginning Jan. 11, 2011, all communication between the researchers, Compliance Office, and the IRB will be conducted through IRBNet. The IRB will require electronic proposal submissions through IRBNet, including exempt proposals, expedited proposals, revisions and renewals. All review decision letters will be issued electronically via IRBNet. Please note that IRB proposal forms are unavailable on IRBNet until January 11. Researchers will continue to submit proposals through the Compliance Office until this date.

Once again, we are happy to make this announcement about the new tools that will be available to the human subjects research community. We look forward to a smooth transition to this new online process. It should make it easier for everyone. We will be contacting you in a follow up e-mail with registration and training information.

For additional information or if you have any questions, please contact Dr. Robert Boeckmann at afrjb@uaa.alaska.edu or (907) 786-1793, Dr. Dianne Toebe afdmt@uaa.alaska.edu or (907) 786-4566, or Compliance Administrator Kelly McLain kamclain@uaa.alaska.edu or (907) 786-1099.