NCI CIRB

The University of South Alabama (91¶ÌÊÓƵ) is enrolled in the National Cancer Institute Central Institutional Review Board (NCI CIRB) Initiative. The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB may carry out "Administrative Review" of certain NCI-sponsored Cooperative Group research studies approved by the CIRB, and once the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB is satisfied that all local context issues have been met, will acknowledge the NCI CIRB as the IRB of Record for the study at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ.  The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB retains responsibilities for local oversight and review of the performance of the research after acceptance of Administrative Review.  The instructions and documentation for submissions are below. 

Be sure to review the complete 91¶ÌÊÓƵ policy and procedure for the use of the NCI CIRB.                                 

IRB SOP 1102: NCI CIRB

â–¼   What Studies are Eligible for NCI IRB Submission? 

Research sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI) are eligible for review by the NCI CIRB. When planning to initiate a NCI sponsored cooperative group trial, consult  the NCI CIRB website to see if the trial is listed on the menu of CIRB approved trials.  

Studies which involve any of the following are not eligible for submission to NCI CIRB:

1. Research involving prisoners
2. Planned emergency research
3. Single patient emergency use or compassionate use situations
4. Investigator-initiated research

91¶ÌÊÓƵ may also require dual review by the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB when the institution deems that the rights and welfare of subjects would be better served by local review.

â–¼   How do I Submit to NCI CIRB?

Before you can submit to NCI CIRB, you must have access to the CIRB IRBManager. In order to gain access to IRBManager, you must first have a CTSU person ID, an active CTEP-IAM account, and listed on the CIRB roster for your site.

  • To obtain or update IAM credentials, including the user name and password necessary to log into the CTSU website, visit the IAM registration page: https://ctepcore.nci.nih.gov/iam
  • Once you receive an email with your CTSU log-on, you can be added to the CIRB Roster via the RUMS Roster. Contact your site RUMS administrator to update the roster.

Submitting to NCI CIRB

Steps Create a New Project in IRBNet
Step 1: Investigator begins LOCAL processes for submission to 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB

Package 1:

  • Upload the following items:
    • 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB Part A Application
    • IRB External Review Request Form (located in IRBNet)
    • Sponsor Protocol  
    • ICF with required 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Boilerplate language for NCI CIRB included
  • PI must electronically sign package 1 for 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB local review
  • All key personnel listed on Part A IRB application must have completed the required applicable human subjects training, ACRP (as applicable), and HIPPA for Research.
  • Submit Package 1 for 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB administrative review and acknowledgment.
  • Acknowledgment letter will be published in Package 1

NOTE:  Fees 

  • IRB fees should be included in the study budget.  There is a one-time 91¶ÌÊÓƵ administrative review fee of $2000 for initial submissions. The contract agreement will include this fee to be paid to 91¶ÌÊÓƵ by the sponsor.
Step 2: Submission to NCI CIRB
  • Once the study team has received 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB acknowledgment in IRBNet confirming that IRB review can be ceded to the NCI CIRB, the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ principal investigator or designee must submit a Study-Specific Worksheet to the NCI CIRB to obtain approval to conduct the study at the University of South Alabama.  NOTE:   Do not submit a Study-Specific Worksheet prior to receiving 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB acknowledgment that a study can be ceded to the NCI CIRB.
  • Principal Investigator or designee completes the Study-Specific Worksheet which serves as the institution’s request to open a study overseen by NCI CIRB.  The Study-Specific Worksheet is completed and submitted online in the NCI CIRB's IRBManager system following the NCI CIRB Instruction Manual for Worksheet Completion in IRBManager (on the CIRB website). Questions about this process should be directed to the NCI CIRB Helpdesk.

NOTE:  If someone other than the Principal Investigator submits the Study-Specific Worksheet, IRBManager will automatically generate an email to the Investigator requesting review, confirm intent to comply, and submission of the Worksheet in IRBManager.  The Investigator must click the SUBMIT button on the final page or the form will not be submitted.

  • Once the NCI CIRB has approved the study for conduct at 91¶ÌÊÓƵ, the NCI CIRB is the IRB of record for the study and is responsible for local site issues as well as study-wide oversight.
Step 3: Review by NCI CIRB

What happens after you submit to the NCI CIRB?

  • NCI CIRB will issue an approval letter through their IRBManager portal.
  • NCI CIRB will contact the investigator/contact person directly with questions about the submission, and with determination of approval, modifications, or disapproval.
  • Any questions that the PI/contact person may have regarding the NCI CIRB review process should be directed to NCI CIRB.

Consent Documents: For NCI CIRB approved projects, the NCI CIRB document submitted to 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB in step 1 should be used for enrolling subjects.  The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB is not the IRB of record for the protocol, and will not be 91¶ÌÊÓƵ stamped.

NOTE:  Commencement of project should not begin until all approvals and the clinical trial agreement are in place.

â–¼   What Happens After I Receive NCI CIRB Approval? 

The NCI CIRB is now the IRB of records for your study. You should refer to NCI CIRB’s policy and procedures for their reporting requirements of continuing review, amendments, adverse events, protocol deviations, closure notifications, and any other submissions.

However, the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB must still ensure adequate institutional oversight of research activities. Therefore, in addition to notifying NCI CIRB, investigators should notify the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB of any of the following events:

  • Change in PI or key personnel (NOTE: IRB Application Part A must be updated to reflect personnel changes)
  • Change of study title
  • Updated local recruitment/advertising materials
  • Participant complaints
  • Conflict of Interest (COI) updates
  • Breaches of confidentiality/HIPAA Privacy or Security violations
  • Protocol deviations that may represent a systematic problem requiring local evaluation by 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB to determine that sufficient local resources are available for safe conduct of the study
  • Study holds or suspensions from NCI CIRB or Sponsor that are not built into the study design (eg: interim analysis or enrollment complete need not be reported
  • Study Terminations from NCI CIRB or sponsor
  • Any death of a participant outside of death as a result of natural disease progression
  • Study Closure
  • Completion of annual check-in form (more information below)

 

Annual Check-In: This is not the same as a continuing review. Therefore, it may occur at a different time than the continuing review required by NCI CIRB.

Project Personnel Updates:   91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB application Part A should be updated, as needed, (i.e., study personnel, PI change and submitted to 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB)

Monitoring of NCI CIRB Approval Protocols: NCI CIRB will arrange for monitoring ongoing research, as its policies and procedures require.  The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB/ Office of Research Compliance and Assurance may monitor any CIRB approved protocol as part of its quality assurance program.

Record Keeping: Record keeping procedures for all files must be established, and CIRB documents, e-mail notifications, and other correspondence must be stored / filed as previously maintained through normal 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB approval.

â–¼   What Specifically Do I Need to do with the Informed Consent Form? 

The 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB local context consent language for NCI CIRB provides an outline of sections which may need to be included in your consent form.  All sections may not be applicable, rather they are dependent on the study to be conducted. 

Review the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB Local Context Language for NCI CIRB to determine what specific 91¶ÌÊÓƵ language is required to be in the consent form. Generally, the HIPAA, Research Related Injury, Bill of Rights, ClinicalTrials.gov reporting, Reportable Income, and Source of Funding is required for the majority of studies.

NOTE: The NCI IRB does not permit HIPAA and GINA language to be a part of the consent document. Rather, these must be separate forms.

â–¼   Who Do I Contact if I Have Any Questions?

For questions concerning submission or reporting requirements of the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ IRB:

IRB Administrator
Office of Research Compliance and Assurance
irb@southalabama.edu
(251) 460-6308

 

For questions or concerns regarding submission or reporting requirements of the NCI CIRB: 

NCI CIRB Helpdesk
Telephone: 888-657-3711
Email:  ncicirbcontact@emmes.com

Ìý