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Human Research News v9, n10: webIRB Update

September 14, 2009

The UCLA IRB is pleased to report that development of the webIRB electronic submission and review system is proceeding as planned. Roll-out of the system will begin this winter. Here are answers to commonly asked questions about the system.

What does webIRB do?

webIRB is an on-line application system. This means that it is paperless. Investigators and research staff will complete an electronic IRB application and the IRB will complete its reviews online. Additionally, the application will store all correspondence between the study team and the IRB and maintain electronic files of all study documents.

Who else uses webIRB?

webIRB is UCLA’s moniker for the ClickCommerce IRB application. A number of other large research institutions are working with ClickCommerce, including University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California, Northwestern University and University of Pittsburgh.

How was UCLA’s version of the webIRB application developed?

Faculty input was critical to the development of the webIRB application. First, a committee with representatives from social-behavioral and biomedical disciplines met regularly with the IRB Staff to write the application. Second, over 30 faculty, from a variety of departments, tested and provided feedback to further improve the application.

How will webIRB support Investigators and Research Staff?

• Online IRB Applications: This means no more paper once webIRB is fully implemented!
  
  
• Application Smartforms: If you have used the newest version of the paper IRB applications, you already have a sense of the types of items that will be in the webIRB application. The webIRB application, however, branches to items depending on the answers you provide to key questions. You won’t have to figure out which forms and supplements to fill out, or which items to skip.
  
  
• Document Management: webIRB serves as an electronic filing system for all study documentation. Currently approved consent and recruitment documents are easy to identify.
  
  
• Track Status of Submissions: The review and approval status of IRB submissions is posted on the protocol worksite. Updates are also sent out by e-mail.
  
  
• Automatic Reminders: webIRB will send out automatic reminders when continuing reviews and responses to the IRB are due.
  
  
• More Efficient IRB Processes: Ultimately, webIRB should make IRB processes more efficient, resulting in better turn-around times. webIRB will also produce detailed productivity reports, allowing the IRB to manage staffing efforts more effectively.

When will webIRB be ready to Roll-Out? Training and roll-out is planned to begin this winter. Check back to this site for future updates.

If you have any questions about webIRB, please contact Carrie Fisher, Ph.D. at cfisher@oprs.ucla.edu. Please put webIRB in the subject line.