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VA Central Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Important Notice About Upcoming Changes in VA Central IRB Policies and Procedures

The 2018 Common Rule requirements are now in effect. All new projects submitted to the VA Central IRB for review must conform to these requirements and VA Central IRB forms and SOPs have been changed to reflect these. All forms required for submission of new studies have been uploaded to this website and other forms are in the process of being uploaded pending further refinement and editing. Check back frequently as new and/or revised content will be added over the next several weeks.

The VA Central IRB is currently not accepting studies requesting the use of broad consent, nor is it currently transitioning any studies approved prior to January 21, 2019, to the 2018 requirements at this time but may consider transitioning at a later date after everyone becomes familiar with the new policies and procedures.

As always, before preparing an application for submission to the VA Central IRB, please contact the VA Central IRB Administrator at Annette.anderson3@va.gov or at 202-443-5649 to discuss the submission first as all multisite studies cannot be accepted for review.


Purpose: The purpose of the VA Central IRB is two-fold. First and foremost its purpose is to enhance the quality of human research protection in multi-site human research projects by performing appropriate ethical and scientific review while ensuring local issues are addressed. The second is to enhance the efficiency of these reviews across participating sites.

VA Facilities: Each VA facility that plans to use the VA Central IRB must add the VA Central IRB to its Federalwide Assurance (FWA) and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the VHA Central Office (VHACO) Human Research Protection Program (HRPP). The MOU clearly delineates the respective roles and responsibilities of each entity. The local VA has ultimate responsibility for its HRPP. Instructions for adding the VA Central IRB as an IRB of Record are also included on this website, as are the VA Central IRB SOPs and forms. Guidance for local facilities in updating their own SOPs to incorporate use of the VA Central IRB is also available.

In addition, any affiliated Nonprofit Research and Education Corporation (NPC) for a VA site that has entered into an MOU with the VHACO HRPP, should also sign the MOU and update its FWA to add the VA Central IRB as an IRB of Record.

VA Investigators: Investigators whose studies are being funded by VA ORD should consult the applicable ORD funding service to determine whether their study should be submitted to the VA Central IRB or to each site's local IRB.

Investigators whose studies will be reviewed by the VA Central IRB should contact the VA Central IRB Administrator, whose contact information is available below, as far in advance of the planned submission as possible to obtain the most current information about submission procedures. Application forms and other information concerning the operations of the VA Central IRB can also be found on this website under the Important Links box on the right-hand side of this page.

VA Central IRB Administrative Staff

Annette Anderson
VA Central IRB Administrator
202-443-5649
Annette.anderson3@va.gov 		Mary Eckart
VA Central IRB Manager
216-215-7945
Mary.Eckart@va.gov
Hector Ramirez
VA Central IRB Manager
202-443-5656
hector.ramirez@va.gov 		Soundia A. Duche, MA, MS
Program Analyst
202-443-5658
Soundia.duche@va.gov
Christie O'Brien
VA Central IRB Manager
202-443-5660
christie.o'brien@va.gov 		Erica Aulik
CATS Manager/ SharePoint Coordinator
Erica.Aulik@va.gov
Lindsey Martin
SharePoint and MOU Coordinator
202-443-5653
Lindsey.Martin2@va.gov 		Kendra Clarke
VA Central IRB Manager
202-443-5766
Kendra.Clarke2@va.gov
Pauline Cilladi-Rehrer
Administrative Officer, ORPP&E
202-443-5607
Pauline.Cilladi-Rehrer@va.gov 		Michele McGee
VA Central IRB Manager
202-443-5651
Michele.mcgee@va.gov
Rishima Weston
VA Central IRB Admin Support
202-443-5642
Rishima.weston@va.gov 		Angela Foster
CATS Manager/ SharePoint Coordinator
Angela.Foster@va.gov

VA Central IRB Toll Free Number: 1-877-254-3130
VA Central IRB E-mail Address: vacentralirb@va.gov














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