April 2025

To enable the JHM HRPP to uphold its’ mission during an emergency, the JHM HRPP has developed a robust emergency preparedness plan.   The plan is intended to guide the JHM HRPP in the continuation of operations during an emergency. An emergency can be due to natural causes (e.g., infectious disease outbreaks, severe weather, flooding) or manmade causes (e.g., fire, exposure to hazardous materials, interruption of basic utilities, mass casualties, or acts of violence). 

The HRPP Emergency Preparedness Plan is intended to apply to all research for which the JHM IRB is the reviewing IRB and JHM research that relies on an external IRB.

Emergency Response IRB

In the event of an emergency, as part of implementing the HRPP’s emergency preparedness plan, the HRPP may formulate an “Emergency Response” IRB. Any of the existing JHM IRBs may be designated as an Emergency Response IRB and may draw on experts from the other JHM IRB committees who serve as alternates for the designated “Emergency Response” IRB.  An example of this occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic when JHM IRB 3 was designated as the “Emergency Response” IRB responsible for the review of COVID-19 related research. Having a dedicated “Emergency Response” IRB for COVID-19 related research enabled the review of this time-sensitive and important research in a systematic manner that leveraged relevant expertise across all of the JHM IRB committees.

For information on the Plan, including how the plan was developed, plan activation, communication and plan maintenance please use the following link: HRPP-Emergency-Preparedness-Plan

In the event an emergency triggers activation of the plan, additional information will be available on the JHM IRB website.