Dear colleagues:
I am very pleased to report that Francis Okello has kindly agreed to join Laurel Hatt as the second IHD representative on Abt’s Institutional Review Board. Their primary role is to prospectively review and approve human subjects research protocols. Katie Speanburg, IRB Administrator, and Teresa Doksum, IRB Chair, are your main points of contact for questions. Laurel and Francis are additional resources you can contact for questions, including whether your study may be human subjects research—and should therefore be submitted to the IRB.
As a reminder, if you are at all unsure of whether your study should be reviewed by the IRB, please contact Katie or Teresa via irb@abtassoc.com if ANY of the following applies:
ü Testing out a new approach or intervention on people
ü Using randomized design (also known as randomized controlled trial, random assignment study, experimental design)
ü Collecting sensitive data about people (such as illegal behavior, HIV-related risk behaviors, stigmatized health conditions, use of family planning) or about health care facilities
ü Collecting data from vulnerable populations (e.g., children, teenagers, pregnant women, persons living with HIV)
ü Using a consent form or script (or not sure if consent needs to be obtained)
ü Collecting blood samples for research purposes
ü Using “mystery clients” (e.g., hiring people to pretend to be patients seeking care from a health care provider)
ü Might want to publish your results in a journal as generalizable research/evaluation (required to have IRB review or exemption)
Examples of studies that may require IRB review:
- Surveys/focus groups/interviews with people about reproductive health or family planning
- Surveys/focus groups/interviews with vulnerable populations
- Medical records review
Example of a study that does not require review by the IRB:
- Interviews with professional stakeholders (e.g., health officials, government leaders) about non-sensitive topics such as how their program/policy operates
Examples of something that is not a study (and so does not require review by the IRB):
- Routine project monitoring and progress reports
- Internal quality improvement procedures
Please join me in thanking Francis for agreeing to take on this new and important role in the division.
Thank you.
Thierry
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Thierry van Bastelaer, PhD | Principal Associate and Technical Deputy to the Vice-President |International Health
Abt Associates | 4550 Montgomery Ave. | Suite 800 North | Bethesda, MD 20814
+1 301.347.5827 (office) | thierryvanbast (Skype)
