What’s New at the JHSPH IRB?   The IRB has posted a new Amendment Application.  Please read more about it click here. The IRB has posted a new Unanticipated Problem/Event Report Form.  Please read more about it click here. The IRB has posted several new forms for Continuing Review, including a new Progress Report Form, Anticipated Event Summary Form, and Protocol Deviation Summary Form.  Please read about them click here. The full review committee (IRB-FC) will commence weekly meetings on Wednesday mornings starting on July 9, 2008. There is a new accelerated review process for administrative and minor amendments, including study materials (click here) and is described here: Click here The JHSPH IRB has posted a new research plan template. Read more about it on the Announcements page. Did you know there is a search tool engine designed to help you search the IRB database to get a listing of all your IRB-approved studies?  Just click on the link https://my.jhsph.edu/C0/IRBDatabaseSearch/default.aspx and you will be taken to the “my.jhsph.edu” home page to perform your search of the IRB database. Reminder: If you intend to submit documents to the IRB electronically, you are encouraged to submit directly to the IRB email box at irboffice@jhsph.edu, not to individual IRB staff members.  There is a risk that the submission will not be promptly reviewed if the staff member is out of the office.  Similarly, please call the general IRB office number with your questions, at 410-955-3193. Clarification about PHIRST submissions: Once a PI submits a research application to PHIRST, and the JHSPH IRB approves the study, the role of PHIRST with respect to submissions and communications with the IRB ends.  After approval, all submissions, including progress reports, amendments, adverse or problem event reports, IND safety reports, etc., should come to the IRB email box at irboffice@jhsph.edu, or by hard copy to our office at 615 N. Wolfe Street, Suite E1100 New flow chart available to help investigators determine human subjects research or not Click here Student Guide, “Navigating the JHSPH IRB” available in the JHSPH IRB office. Click here PHIRST help line hours are between M-F 8am – 4pm during weekdays. If calling after hours or if there is no answer- please leave a message and someone will return your call.

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is committed to protecting the rights and welfare of all individuals who participate as subjects in research. The School affirms this obligation through its Assurance with the Federal government which seeks through its Human Research Protection Program to ensure that comprehensive protection is afforded to every research participant.

The School has two onsite duly constituted and authorized standing Institutional Review Boards and a private IRB (the Western IRB) that acts as a third IRB when reviewing certain studies on behalf of the JHSPH IRB. The JHSPH IRBs review all studies involving human subjects, including research methods, recruitment techniques, study procedures, consent forms and all other appropriate forms, documents and survey instruments.

It is the responsibility of faculty and students to ensure that formal IRB approval is obtained before initiating contact with human subjects in any research project.

A copy of the school's Federalwide Assurance is available here.