Advancing Collaborative Institutional Review Board Approaches

AzTransNet realizes that a key to increasing the level of research in Arizona is improving the research infrastructure and capacity of its universities, non-profit biomedical research institutions, and hospitals. One essential aspect of research infrastructure is adequate IRB resources-both for institutions conducting research that do not house their own IRBs and for institutions engaged in collaborative or multi-site studies.

Activities to Date:

• AzTransNet conducted a feasibility evaluation for the creation of a community, non-profit IRB. Key finding: Leveraging existing IRBs- whether an institutional IRB found in the state or a commercial IRB serving institutions in the state - is a more feasible near term approach than establishing a free-standing community IRB. Click here to view the case analysis.
• AzTransNet prepared options for collaborative IRB models considered by the Alzheimer's Consortium in furthering the development of their Therapeutics Core.
• On June 4, 2007, members of the Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, including the University of Arizona, TGen, Banner Health Research Institute/Banner Alzheimer's Institute, The Mayo Clinic, Sun Health Research Institute, and Barrow Neurological Institute, gathered to explore collaborative IRB models as a way to expediting Alzheimer's and other clinical trials in a high quality environment. AzTransNet facilitated and participated in this meeting. Click here to view the meeting presentation.

Ongoing Activities:

• AzTransNet is continuing to support the efforts of the Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium to develop collaborative IRB resources.