New Name and Structure for Institutional Review Board

The UNTHSC Institutional Review Board (IRB) has changed its name to reflect a new partnership and collaboration with the John Peter Smith (JPS) Health Network. The new name is “The North Texas Regional IRB “. The North Texas Regional IRB is a collaboration involving UNTHSC and the John Peter Smith (JPS) Health Network to provide human subject protection review services to both UNTHSC and JPS researchers…in a single IRB framework. As a Regional IRB, other collaborations are possible throughout the North Texas region, hence the name “North Texas Regional IRB”. As new collaborating partners become involved with the North Texas Regional IRB, announcements will be sent out regarding these new partnerships and opportunities.

Practical implications for UNTHSC researchers:

• The IRB website and all IRB forms and applications have been modified to reflect this name change.

• In addition, some IRB forms have new elements to reflect the partnership with JPS. We recommend using the new forms for all IRB applications and processes (new, continuing review, final reports, etc.).

• Materials using old versions of the forms and templates that have already been submitted will still be reviewed (no need to re-submit these documents)…but we encourage the use of the new forms as soon as possible. The “old” IRB application forms and templates will not be accepted after March 1, 2018.

For more information, visit this page on the IRB website:
https://www.unthsc.edu/research/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/FAQs-about-the-North-Texas-Regional-IRB-FINAL.pdf