What are the criteria for being a primary investigator?

Please visit our page that explains the criteria.
 

What is the time involved for a new study to be approved?

For a complete expedited or exempt study submission, you typically hear something from the office within 1-2 weeks.  For a complete study requiring full committee review, you should hear something within one month. (Our average approval time for a full committee study is 33 days. The average approval times for other institutions of our size is 60-79 days.)
 

I am from the UNM Campus.  Where do I submit my project (UNM IRB or the UNMHSC HRRC)?

The UNMHSC HRRC will review UNM research that involves a biomedical component.  If you are unsure you should contact a senior analyst.  Note that the UNM IRB and UNMHSC HRRC have different forms.

Can I come to the office for assistance or who can I call for a specific request?

Our staff is happy to work with you and assist with any questions you might have.  We encourage you to make an appointment with one of our analysts or call us for any specific requests.  You can do so by going to our contact page and either emailing or calling the person you need.

New Study: Ask an HPS or a Senior Analyst

Continuation, Amendment, Closure: Ask an Analyst

Events, Unanticipated Problems, Complaints: Ask an HPS

Do I need IRB approval prior to submitting my application to NIH?

NIH generally permits Just In Time (JIT) review.  This means that NIH does not require IRB approval until a preliminary NIH review (peer review) has been done and the grant receives a priority score indicating it is likely to be funded.  At that time it should be submitted to the IRB for review.

Note that there are times where IRB approval may be necessary before submission of an application to NIH.  For example, a particularly tight time-lien for an RFA; or for certain instances when end-of-fiscal-year funding requirements might demand earlier IRB review and approval.

See the NIH Policy.

I am reviewing case studies, does my project require IRB review?

Review of Case studies may or may not require IRB review. Please check out the FAQ program to see if your project requires IRB review.

Does my study qualify for Expedited Review?

If the research involves minimal risk (as determined by the HRRC or IRB) and all aspects of the research fall in any of the nine categories in section 5.2.1 of the HRRC Manual, then it qualifies to be reviewed through the expedited process.  This link will take you to the HRRC manual.  When it opens, go to section 5.2.1.
 

How do I know if I am using or collecting Protected Health Information (PHI) for research?

Protected Health Information (a.k.a PHI) includes any identifiable health information collected during the course of a research study.  PHI can include data such as a person's height and weight.  For more information regarding this, please contact the UNMHSC HIPAA Privacy Officer, Sophia Collaros, at 272-1493 or the HRPO at 272-1129 or the UNM Privacy Officer at 272-2121.

When do the Committees meet?

The HRRC consists of four committees.  Each meet once a month on the first, second, third and fourth Tuesday of the month. The IRB is one committee and meets once a month.

Check out the Committees page to see upcoming Meeting dates!

My sponsor requires a list of all committee members.  Where do I find a list?

You can find the UNMHSC HRRC and the UNM IRB member lists on the Committees page under Member Listing .

What are the FWA numbers for the Committees?

You can find the UNMHSC HRRC and the UNM IRB FWA numbers on the Committees page under Other Information.
Each committee has its own FWA number.