New Electronic IRB System (eIRB)

The Office of Human Subjects Research introduces the JHM eIRB, the new Web-based system for IRB application submissions. The eIRB is a paperless, electronic method to submit, track, and review the scientific, regulatory, and compliance information required for the safe conduct of human subjects research. The system provides a platform for the IRBs and other research compliance committees together with the JHM research community to share critical information regarding the submission and review of new applications, amendments, protocol events, and continuing reviews.
Among other things, the eIRB will:

• improve communication between clinical researchers and the IRBs
• prevent the loss of paper documents
• provide 24/7 accessibility to up-to-date protocol information.

Investigators at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and JHU School of Nursing are currently using the eIRB for the submission of their new applications to the JHM Office of Human Subjects Research. The Divisions of Clinical Immunology and Pulmonary Medicine in the School of Medicine will be following suit in a month. Other divisions will start to use the eIRB as the new academic year begins in the fall.

The eIRB website is located at http://e-irb.jhmi.edu. Access requires a JHED ID. Individuals who do not have a JHED ID must request an eIRB login and password.

For assistance with eIRB or to add your division to the timetable, contact Michele Copersino, Associate Manager for Education & Training, at jhmeirb@jhmi.edu or 410-955-3008.

Johns Hopkins Medicine and MedStar IRBs Sign Reciprocity Agreement

The Johns Hopkins Medicine and MedStar Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) have signed a reciprocity agreement that will facilitate collaborative research efforts between Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and MedStar facilities.

For Hopkins full-time faculty who are located at Good Samaritan Hospital and other Medstar facilities, the policy, effective immediately, is as follows:

• Commercially-funded protocols will be reviewed by the MedStar IRB and accepted by Johns Hopkins Medicine. Radiation safety, biosafety, and pharmacy and therapeutics review will also be conducted by MedStar. Conflict of Interest review will be done by the Johns Hopkins Committee on Conflict of Interest and communicated to the MedStar IRB.

• All other protocols will be reviewed by the Johns Hopkins Medicine IRBs with ancillary reviews also being done at Johns Hopkins. The MedStar IRB will accept these reviews.

This new agreement also has implications for existing research protocols. Hopkins faculty who wish to conduct collaborative research in MedStar facilities, for example, will no longer need to undergo dual review by both IRBs. If you have a JHM IRB-approved protocol and wish to collaborate with MedStar colleagues to recruit at MedStar facilities, a second review by the MedStar IRB is no longer needed. Likewise, MedStar investigators with a MedStar IRB-approved protocol can conduct collaborative research at Hopkins facilities without JHM IRB review. Hopkins faculty who collaborate with colleagues at NIA to do research at Harbor Hospital, however, still will require JHM IRB review.

Please contact Barbara Starklauf, Assistant Dean for Human Subject Research Compliance, if you have any questions. She may be reached at 5-3008 or bstark@jhmi.edu. The leadership of both institutions feels confident that this new agreement will facilitate the conduct of research at each institution, while maintaining rigorous research oversight.

Return to top of Human Subjects Research