The Institutional Review Board will provide assistance with the IRB process for new and seasoned investigators. If you have a question or need assistance with a research project, we are happy to help. We are available for a phone call or an in-person meeting. Please send an email to hrppIRB@mainehealth.org make your request.
• Please see the IRB Main Page to Get Started.
• To get your questions answered, access the IRBNet Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
• If you are unable to locate the information that you need, please contact the IRB Office: hrppIRB@mainehealth.org
IRB Office Hours
The Institutional Review Board will provide assistance with the IRB process for new and seasoned investigators. If you have a question or need assistance with a research project, we are happy to help. We are available for a phone call or an in-person meeting. Please send an email to hrppIRB@mainehealth.org to make your request.
Approval Types
In an attempt to help you navigate through the regulatory process, the IRB Office has assembled this list of our “approval types” and their definitions. If you have any questions about this list, or any suggestions for additions, please call our office (396-8240).
New Human Subject Research Proposals that may be Expedited:
The MMC IRB may review certain human subject’s research using an expedited review procedure, if it meets the requirements of the federal regulations. This document is divided into the following sections:
Definition: An IRB may use the expedited review procedure to review some or all of the research appearing on the list (below) if it is found by the reviewer(s) to involve no more than minimal risk.
Please note:
1) The activities listed should not be deemed to be of minimal risk simply because they are included on this list. Inclusion on this list merely means that the activity is eligible for review through the expedited review procedure when the specific circumstances of the proposed research involve no more than minimal risk to human subjects.
2) The categories in this list apply regardless of the age of subjects, except as noted.
3) The expedited review procedure may not be used where identification of the subjects and/or their responses would reasonably place them at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to the subjects financial standing, employability, insurability, reputation, or be stigmatizing, unless reasonable and appropriate protections will be implemented so that risks related to invasion of privacy and breach of confidentiality are no greater than minimal.
4) The expedited review procedure may not be used for classified research involving human subjects.
5) Investigators are reminded that the standard requirements for informed consent (or its waiver, alteration, or exception) apply regardless of the type of review–expedited or convened–utilized by the IRB.
Research Categories
(1) Clinical studies of drugs and medical devices only when condition (a) or (b) is met.
(a) Research on drugs for which an investigational new drug application (21 CFR Part 312) is not required. (Note: Research on marketed drugs that significantly increases the risks or decreases the acceptability of the risks associated with the use of the product is not eligible for expedited review.)
(b) Research on medical devices for which (i) an investigational device exemption application (21 CFR Part 812) is not required; or (ii) the medical device is cleared/approved for marketing and the medical device is being used in accordance with its cleared/approved labeling.
(2) Collection of blood samples by finger stick, heel stick, ear stick, or venipuncture as follows:
(a) from healthy, nonpregnant adults who weigh at least 110 pounds. For these subjects, the amounts drawn may not exceed 550 ml in an 8 week period and collection may not occur more frequently than 2 times per week; or
(b) from other adults and children2, considering the age, weight, and health of the subjects, the collection procedure, the amount of blood to be collected, and the frequency with which it will be collected. For these subjects, the amount drawn may not exceed the lesser of 50 ml or 3 ml per kg in an 8 week period and collection may not occur more frequently than 2 times per week.
(3) Prospective collection of biological specimens for research purposes by noninvasive means.
Examples: (a) hair and nail clippings in a nondisfiguring manner; (b) deciduous teeth at time of exfoliation or if routine patient care indicates a need for extraction; (c) permanent teeth if routine patient care indicates a need for extraction; (d) excreta and external secretions (including sweat); (e) uncannulated saliva collected either in an unstimulated fashion or stimulated by chewing gumbase or wax or by applying a dilute citric solution to the tongue; (f) placenta removed at delivery; (g) amniotic fluid obtained at the time of rupture of the membrane prior to or during labor; (h) supra- and subgingival dental plaque and calculus, provided the collection procedure is not more invasive than routine prophylactic scaling of the teeth and the process is accomplished in accordance with accepted prophylactic techniques; (i) mucosal and skin cells collected by buccal scraping or swab, skin swab, or mouth washings; (j) sputum collected after saline mist nebulization.
(4) Collection of data through noninvasive procedures (not involving general anesthesia or sedation) routinely employed in clinical practice, excluding procedures involving x-rays or microwaves. Where medical devices are employed, they must be cleared/approved for marketing. (Studies intended to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the medical device are not generally eligible for expedited review, including studies of cleared medical devices for new indications.)
Examples: (a) physical sensors that are applied either to the surface of the body or at a distance and do not involve input of significant amounts of energy into the subject or an invasion of the subjects privacy; (b) weighing or testing sensory acuity; (c) magnetic resonance imaging; (d) electrocardiography, electroencephalography, thermography, detection of naturally occurring radioactivity, electroretinography, ultrasound, diagnostic infrared imaging, doppler blood flow, and echocardiography; (e) moderate exercise, muscular strength testing, body composition assessment, and flexibility testing where appropriate given the age, weight, and health of the individual.
(5) Research involving materials (data, documents, records, or specimens) that have been collected, or will be collected solely for nonresearch purposes (such as medical treatment or diagnosis). (NOTE: Some research in this category may be exempt from the HHS regulations for the protection of human subjects. 45 CFR 46.101(b)(4). This listing refers only to research that is not exempt.)
(6) Collection of data from voice, video, digital, or image recordings made for research purposes.
(7) Research on individual or group characteristics or behavior (including, but not limited to, research on perception, cognition, motivation, identity, language, communication, cultural beliefs or practices, and social behavior) or research employing survey, interview, oral history, focus group, program evaluation, human factors evaluation, or quality assurance methodologies. (NOTE: Some research in this category may be exempt from the HHS regulations for the protection of human subjects. 45 CFR 46.101(b)(2) and (b)(3). This listing refers only to research that is not exempt.)
New Human Subjects Proposals that may be Exempt from IRB Review:
All human subject research is subject to federal regulations, with a few exceptions. These exceptions may be granted an “exemption” from IRB review. The following is a list of the most common categories of research that are considered exempt. Please keep in mind that only the IRB may grant an exemption, the investigator must go to the IRB to receive an exemption.
1) Research conducted in established or commonly accepted educational settings, involving normal education practices. This category may include children
2) Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement) for which subjects cannot be identified, or release of the information would not be harmful to the subject. This category may include children
3) Research involving the use of survey procedures or interview procedures or observation of public behavior for which subjects cannot be identified, OR release of the information would not be harmful to the subject. This category may not include children. If subjects are 18 years of age or younger parental consent is required. Research may be reviewed by expedited procedures – do not use this form.
4) Research involving the collection or study of existing data, documents, records, pathological specimens, or diagnostic specimens, if these sources are publicly available OR if the information is recorded by the Investigator in such a manner that subjects cannot be identified, directly or through identifiers linked to the subjects
5) Unidentifiable human body parts, sections or samples obtained from a morgue
New Human Subject Research Proposals that may not be reviewed via an expedited procedure, and are not exempt:
If your new, human research proposal does not fit the definition of what may be reviewed via an expedited procedure, and it is not exempt from IRB regulations, it must be reviewed by the fully convened committee (i.e. at an IRB meeting). Typically these protocols involve novel medications or devices, which are under the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) jurisdiction (i.e. are under IND or IDE, or are not approved for marketing). Some other protocols, in which the risk is perceived to be “more than minimal” will also be reviewed by the fully convened committee. The fully convened committee must also review humanitarian Use Devices (HUD or HDE’s).
If you have any questions about the type of review your new, human subject research project may need, please contact our office
If you are unsure whether your study meets the clinicaltrials.gov definitions as an applicable project and requires posting on clinicaltrials.gov, or have any other questions, please contact the MMC IRB office, 661-4474 or mmc_irb@mainehealth.org, for guidance.
IRB Links
FDA 21 CFR 50 Protection of Human Subjects
OHRP 45 CFR 46 Protection of Human Subjects
OHRP Search to Guidance Documents
OHRP FAQ’s on Informed Consent
FDA Guidance for IRBs and Clinical Investigators
Humanitarian Device Exemptions (HDE) Regulation: Questions and Final Guidance for Industry
Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research
Association for the Accredition of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP)
Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP)
Recruiting Study Subjects
FDA requires that an Institutional Review Board (IRB) review and have authority to approve, require modifications in, or disapprove all research activities covered by the IRB regulations [21 CFR 56.109(a)]. An IRB is required to ensure that appropriate safeguards exist to protect the rights and welfare of research subjects [21 CFR 56.107(a) and 56.111]. In fulfilling these responsibilities, an IRB is expected to review all the research documents and activities that bear directly on the rights and welfare of the subjects of proposed research. The protocol, the consent document and, for studies conducted under the Investigational New Drug (IND) regulations, the investigator’s brochure are examples of documents that the IRB should review. The IRB should also review the methods and material that investigators propose to use to recruit subjects.
A. Media Advertising:
Direct advertising for research subjects, i.e., advertising that is intended to be seen or heard by prospective subjects to solicit their participation in a study, is not in and of itself, an objectionable practice. Direct advertising includes, but is not necessarily limited to: newspaper, radio, TV, bulletin boards, posters, and flyers that are intended for prospective subjects. Not included are: (1) communications intended to be seen or heard by health professionals, such as “dear doctor” letters and doctor-to-doctor letters (even when soliciting for study subjects), (2) news stories and (3) publicity intended for other audiences, such as financial page advertisements directed toward prospective investors.
IRB review and approval of listings of clinical trials on the internet would provide no additional safeguard and is not required when the system format limits the information provided to basic trial information, such as: the title; purpose of the study; protocol summary; basic eligibility criteria; study site location(s); and how to contact the site for further information. Examples of clinical trial listing services that do not require prospective IRB approval include the National Cancer Institute’s cancer clinical trial listing (PDQ) and the government-sponsored AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service (ACTIS). However, when the opportunity to add additional descriptive information is not precluded by the data base system, IRB review and approval may assure that the additional information does not promise or imply a certainty of cure or other benefit beyond what is contained in the protocol and the informed consent document.
FDA considers direct advertising for study subjects to be the start of the informed consent and subject selection process. Advertisements should be reviewed and approved by the IRB as part of the package for initial review. However, when the clinical investigator decides at a later date to advertise for subjects, the advertising may be considered an amendment to the ongoing study. When such advertisements are easily compared to the approved consent document, the IRB chair, or other designated IRB member, may review and approve by expedited means, as provided by 21 CFR 56.110(b)(2). When the IRB reviewer has doubts or other complicating issues are involved, the advertising should be reviewed at a convened meeting of the IRB.
FDA expects IRBs to review the advertising to assure that it is not unduly coercive and does not promise a certainty of cure beyond what is outlined in the consent and the protocol. This is especially critical when a study may involve subjects who are likely to be vulnerable to undue influence. [21 CFR 50.20, 50.25, 56.111(a)(3), 56.111(b) and 812.20(b)(11).]
When direct advertising is to be used, the IRB should review the information contained in the advertisement and the mode of its communication, to determine that the procedure for recruiting subjects is not coercive and does not state or imply a certainty of favorable outcome or other benefits beyond what is outlined in the consent document and the protocol. The IRB should review the final copy of printed advertisements to evaluate the relative size of type used and other visual effects. When advertisements are to be taped for broadcast, the IRB should review the final audio/video tape. The IRB may review and approve the wording of the advertisement prior to taping to preclude re-taping because of inappropriate wording. The review of the final taped message prepared from IRB-approved text may be accomplished through expedited procedures. The IRB may wish to caution the clinical investigators to obtain IRB approval of message text prior to taping, in order to avoid re-taping because of inappropriate wording.
No claims should be made, either explicitly or implicitly, that the drug, biologic or device is safe or effective for the purposes under investigation, or that the test article is known to be equivalent or superior to any other drug, biologic or device. Such representation would not only be misleading to subjects but would also be a violation of the Agency’s regulations concerning the promotion of investigational drugs [21 CFR 312.7(a)] and of investigational devices [21 CFR 812.7(d)].
Advertising for recruitment into investigational drug, biologic or device studies should not use terms such as “new treatment,” “new medication” or “new drug” without explaining that the test article is investigational. A phrase such as “receive new treatments” leads study subjects to believe they will be receiving newly improved products of proven worth.
Advertisements should not promise “free medical treatment,” when the intent is only to say subjects will not be charged for taking part in the investigation. Advertisements may state that subjects will be paid, but should not emphasize the payment or the amount to be paid, by such means as larger or bold type.
Generally, FDA believes that any advertisement to recruit subjects should be limited to the information the prospective subjects need to determine their eligibility and interest. When appropriately worded, the following items may be included in advertisements. It should be noted, however, that FDA does not require inclusion of all of the listed items.
1. the name and address of the clinical investigator and/or research facility;
2. the condition under study and/or the purpose of the research;
3. in summary form, the criteria that will be used to determine eligibility for the study;
4. a brief list of participation benefits, if any (e.g., a no-cost health examination);
5. the time or other commitment required of the subjects; and
6. the location of the research and the person or office to contact for further information.
Clinical Trials Registration
Decision Making Charts
Institutional Review Board
1 Riverfront Plaza
Westbrook, Maine 04092
207.661.4474
hrppIRB@mainehealth.org
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