TAMUK IAA_TAMUK as reviewing IRB*

*When you sign the IAA, DO NOT LOCK the pdf file, or other people will not be able to sign.*

What is Collaborative Research?

Collaborative research is research that may be conducted by researchers from more than one institution at just one site or when researchers from multiple institutions conduct different parts of a protocol.

When conducting collaborative or multi-site research involving human subjects, it is the investigator’s responsibility to contact their institution’s institutional review board (IRB) office to determine which IRB will have oversight of their research. This means one IRB will be the IRB of record and the other would be considered the relying IRB.

The Reviewing IRB (IRB of record) is considered the IRB that reviews the research on behalf of one or more institutions. They are responsible for ensuring the research complies with the regulations, ethical standards, and institutional policies. The Relying IRB accepts the review and oversight of the research project from the reviewing IRB.

The reviewing IRB and relying IRB both have the authority to investigate protocol deviations, noncompliance, or unanticipated problems. However, the reviewing IRB will need to rely on information from the relying IRB. 

What is a reliance agreement?

A reliance agreement is a formal, written document that provides a mechanism for an institution engaged in research to delegate institutional review board (IRB) review to an independent IRB or an IRB of another institution. Institutions that are engaged in human subjects research, where one institution will rely on the other institution’s IRB, must agree to the terms of the Reliance Agreement before research can begin.

How do I request a reliance agreement?

The first step is to contact your IRB Coordinator at TAMUK. Your IRB coordinator will help you identify if a reliance agreement is needed. Failure to contact your IRB coordinator early in the planning stages may lead to delays.

How do I fill out the TAMUK reliance agreement?

If TAMUK is the reviewing IRB you need to fill out TAMUK IRB Authorization Agreement (IAA). Since TAMUK is the reviewing IRB you will fill out the Institution A sections of the IAA form. The relying IRB will fill out the Institution B sections. TAMUK will not sign the IAA form until the relying IRB signs first. Once the IAA form is completed with all signatures the investigator is able to start their research project.