Supporting Human Subjects Research at UMB
Keeping the Community Informed
This newsletter is designed to get timely and useful information to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) research community. Please email HRPO@umaryland.edu if you have suggestions and topics for future newsletters.
From the IRB Chair
UMB IRB chair and Human Research Protections Office (HRPO)/IRB virtual office hours take place the second Monday of each month from 12-1 p.m.
Link: https://umaryland.zoom.us/j/95695695923?pwd=RNkVmEbTox7fbjGaTqGORBojpXAGqJ.1
No reservation is required.
Call for IRB Members
The UMB IRB is seeking new membership. Although the UMB IRB is looking for members of varying skills and expertise, MDs are strongly encouraged to apply. Prior IRB experience is not necessary. Full orientation and training will be provided.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining UMB’s IRB, please email HRPO@umaryland.edu with the subject “IRB Volunteer.”
Patient vs. Participant
A patient is an individual receiving or needing medical treatment for a specific condition, while a participant is a broader term for anyone taking part in a research study or activity, which may or may not involve a medical condition or treatment.
Regulatory Binders
A common IRB audit finding is either a missing regulatory binder or missing parts of the regulatory binder. Be sure to update principal investigator and team member trainings and CVs/résumés.
The Office of Accountability and Compliance is offering on-demand regulatory binder clinics, which allows a review of regulatory binders. Sign up for a review at https://www.umaryland.edu/hr.
Tip for Protocol Submission
Please be sure to review your protocol for consistency and clarity. This will allow for a more efficient review of your protocol.
Are you taking photos or collecting audio/video recordings as part of your research?
The informed consent must disclose information about any photos, audio, or video recordings, including:
- Type of recording
- Identifiers that will be recorded (such as the subject's name, partial or full facial features, scars, tattoos, etc.)
- Description of the measures that will be taken to ensure the confidentiality of the person being recorded
- Intended use of the recordings
- Where and how the recordings will be stored
- Who has access to the recordings
- The timeline for the destruction of the recordings