Jan 18, 2005

As recently announced, the Office of Human Research Ethics (OHRE) was created to centralize and enhance oversight of research at UNC-Chapel Hill involving human subjects. The next phase of integration will be to standardize practices across all Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) on campus.

The IRBs have worked together over the last year to develop standardized application forms, consent form templates and related guidance. These are now available on a common website, shared by all IRBs at http://ohre.unc.edu. The existing school-based websites for individual IRBs will be removed on February 15, 2005.

The new application and consent forms will be accepted immediately, and will be required for new IRB submissions after March 15, 2005.

Please be reminded that new human subjects training requirements for researchers and staff will also go into full effect on March 15, 2005. See http://ohre.unc.edu/educ.php for more information.

For all changes there is a “grace period” to allow for transition, after which old forms and training will not be accepted. All research teams are strongly encouraged to begin using new materials immediately, and to visit the new website for further information.

Thank you for your continued support in this transition, and we look forward to facilitating your research as we begin a new year.