Collaborations with Other Institutions

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When UNH researchers collaborate with researchers at other institutions or organizations external to UNH, under certain conditions the UNH IRB may serve as the IRB of record for those institutions or organizations, or the UNH IRB may cede review to another IRB.  Either may be accomplished via the execution of an IRB Authorization Agreement (IAA) or via a reliance agreement executed via SMART IRB. UNH Research Integrity Services (RIS) staff work with UNH researchers wanting to set up such arrangements to determine whether the appropriate conditions exist, and whether the desired arrangements are appropriate for the study in question. Contact any of the RIS staff (see contact information to the right) with questions.  Related to the topic of collaborative research, also see the UNH IRB's Guidelines for Use of External IRBs and Single IRBs (sIRBs).

1. IAAs

For UNH to execute an IAA, either when serving as the IRB of record or when ceding review to another institution’s IRB:

  • An external institution/organization must have an active FWA with OHRP.
  • An eligible UNH researcher must agree to be the UNH PI of record, and accept responsibility for the protection of human subjects in the study.

In order for the UNH IRB to enter into an IAA with an external institution/organization to serve as the IRB of record, there must be an active UNH IRB file with the work of the external institution/organization described in the narrative.

When the UNH IRB cedes review to an external institution’s/organization’s IRB via an IAA, the UNH researcher must submit an abbreviated application to the UNH IRB, including the executed IAA.  Effective June 1, 2021 studies must be submitted to the IRB for review via Cayuse IRB/Human Ethics.  Information about Cayuse IRB/Human Ethics is available here.  The UNH IRB will process the application for review in Cayuse IRB/Human Ethics and via this system notify the UNH researcher when UNH IRB approval has been granted to involve human subjects in the study.

2. SMART IRB

For UNH to enter into a reliance agreement via SMART IRB, either serving as the relied-upon IRB of record or when relying on another institution’s IRB for review:

  • An eligible UNH researcher must agree to be the UNH PI of record and accept responsibility for the protection of human subjects in the study.

When the UNH IRB relies upon an external institution’s/organization’s IRB via SMART IRB, the UNH researcher must submit an abbreviated application to the UNH IRB.  Effective June 1, 2021 studies must be submitted to the IRB for review via Cayuse IRB/Human Ethics.  Information about Cayuse IRB/Human Ethics is available here.   Upon receipt of the application and documentation from SMART IRB about the finalization of the reliance agreement, the UNH IRB will process the application for review in Cayuse IRB/Human Ethics and via this system notify the UNH researcher when UNH IRB approval has been granted to involve human subjects in the study.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Melissa McGee, Assistant Director
Research Integrity Services
Service Building Room 107
51 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-2005
Email: melissa.mcgee@unh.edu

Susan Jalbert, Compliance Officer
Research Integrity Services
Service Building Room 107
51 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-3536
Email: susan.jalbert@unh.edu

Julie Simpson, Director
Research Integrity Services
Service Building Room 107
51 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-2003
Email: julie.simpson@unh.edu