title: Partnering to harmonize IRBs for community-engaged research to reduce health disparities.
abstract: Emerging advances in health disparities research include controlled trials and comparative effectiveness studies that are frequently conducted at multiple community and academic sites. Review by different institutional review boards (IRBs) presents a major impediment to the timely and effective conduct of such research. When research involves minority and underserved communities as well as multiple geographic regions, institutional requirements and interpretation of ethical standards may vary substantially. Such variations can complicate the informed consent process and research protocol, and may undermine participant respect and trial quality. In addition, multiple IRB review can lead to unnecessary delays, jeopardizing funding and capacity to perform collaborative projects. In response to these issues, the Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Translational Research Network (RTRN) is developing a community-partnered approach to streamlining IRB review across its consortium of 18 RCMI grantee institutions that will ensure compliance while enhancing the quality of health disparities research.
authors.affiliation: William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii, 2515 Dole Street, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. hammatt@hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Zoë H
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Hammatt
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nishitani
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Heslin
authors.forename: M Theresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Szetela
authors.forename: Loretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Pluscedia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antoine-LaVigne
authors.forename: Nell G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Forge
authors.forename: Keith C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Norris
mesh_terms: D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical; D014481:United States
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2002 May 2;346(18):1373-82
references.pmid: 11986412
references.citation: Kennedy Inst Ethics J. 1998 Sep;8(3):329-37
references.pmid: 11656936
references.citation: J Clin Ethics. 1992 Winter;3(4):278-82
references.pmid: 1463879
references.citation: IRB. 2010 Sep-Oct;32(5):10-9
references.pmid: 21033605
references.citation: Milbank Q. 1995;73(4):489-506
references.pmid: 7491097
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2010 Oct 21;363(17):1591-3
references.pmid: 20942660
references.citation: JAMA. 2002 Jan 2;287(1):72-7
references.pmid: 11754711
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 2002 May 2;346(18):1405-8
references.pmid: 11986418
references.citation: Med Care. 2002 Jun;40(6):521-9
references.pmid: 12021678
references.citation: J Gen Intern Med. 1999 Sep;14(9):537-46
references.pmid: 10491242