June 22, 2006

IRB application streamlined

The Office for the Protection of Research Subjects (OPRS), with the financial support of the Office for Research, has created an electronic institutional review board (IRB) protocol submission process, the “eIRB,” to make the process more efficient.

The electronic application process will help develop, track and modify human research protocol applications, using “smart form” technology.

Before faculty, staff or students enroll human subjects in research, they must obtain IRB approval.

The OPRS provides administrative support to the Northwestern IRBs. OPRS works with the research community and the IRBs to make sure that such research is conducted under the highest ethical, human and scientific standards and principles. Research subjects — human and animal — are protected by laws, regulations and rules, and the OPRS makes sure that everyone involved in such research is aware of those rules.

IRBs scrutinize faculty research projects as they are proposed and carried out, making sure that human subjects are protected.

For more information about the eIRB application, including start dates and transition processes, contact (847) 467-eIRB or eirbsystem@northwestern.edu.