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If you are new to IRBNet, please register for a user account at gov.irbnet.org. Registration instructions can be found here. Additional training resources are also available on the VAIRRS SharePoint portal.
For questions, please contact us at VAIRRS@va.gov.
Additional information can be found on VAIRRS.
VA Central IRB Forms and Process Updates
CIRB Update – September 11, 2024
The VA Central IRB has released an update to our submission processes and forms pertaining to the following:
Prior to using the new forms or following the new processes, please read the Summary of Changes or for more detailed information regarding these changes you may also refer to the VA Central IRB webinar which took place on September 11, 2024. The webinar will be made available at ePROS Webinar Archive (va.gov) on or around September 20, 2024.
All new forms are now posted in the VA Central IRB IRBNet Forms and Templates library. As a reminder please continue to always download VA Central IRB forms directly from IRBNet Forms and Templates library (VA Central IRB Administration, Washington, DC – Documents for Researchers) when they are needed to ensure the current version is being used and submitted with a package. Packages received with outdated forms will be returned for correction.
CIRB Update - January 29, 2024
The VA Central IRB made recent changes to submission forms, VAIRRS Wizards, and the SOP. Prior to using these new forms, please read the Summary of Changes – CIRB Forms and SOP for a detailed list of changes.
A description of other VA Central IRB changes are linked below:
Continuing Review Forms - June 2023
Summary of Changes – PI and LSI Continuing Review
Post Approval Submission Forms - June 2023
Summary of Changes – Post Approval Submission Forms
New Project Forms - October 2023
Summary of Changes – CIRB New Project Forms
If there are any questions or if submission assistance is needed, please contact the CIRB Manager responsible for your project, a CIRB Administrator or the VA Central IRB general mailbox at VACentralIRB@va.gov for support.
Purpose: The purpose of the VA Central IRB is two-fold. First and foremost its purpose is to enhance the quality of human research protection in multi-site human research projects by performing appropriate ethical and scientific review while ensuring local issues are addressed. In this role, the VA Central IRB also provides the single IRB oversight required for multi-site studies by the 2018 Common Rule. The second is to enhance the efficiency of these reviews across participating sites.
VA Facilities: Each VA facility that plans to use the VA Central IRB must add the VA Central IRB to its Federalwide Assurance (FWA) and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the VHA Central Office (VHACO) Human Research Protection Program (HRPP). The MOU clearly delineates the respective roles and responsibilities of each entity. The local VA has ultimate and immediate responsibility for its HRPP. Instructions for adding the VA Central IRB as an IRB of Record are also included on this website, as are the VA Central IRB SOPs and forms.
In addition, any affiliated Nonprofit Research and Education Corporation (NPC) for a VA site that has entered into an MOU with the VHACO HRPP, should also sign the MOU and update its FWA to add the VA Central IRB as an IRB of Record.
VA Investigators: Investigators whose studies are being funded by VA ORD should consult the ORD funding service to determine whether their study should be submitted to the VA Central IRB. Investigators who are new to the VA CIRB and whose studies will be reviewed by the VA Central IRB should contact the VA Central IRB mailbox (vacentralirb@va.gov), as far in advance of the planned submission as possible to request an introductory meeting and pre-submission consultation in order to submit the most likely application for approval. Information concerning the operations of the VA Central IRB can also be found on this website under the Important Links box on the right-hand side of this page.