Turn-Around Times
The UAMS IRB Biomedical Committees meet on the 1^st, 3^rd, and 4^th Tuesday of each month.  On Wednesday following the meeting, the IRB Chair and office staff edit the committee’s actions and prepare the minutes for the meeting.  Actions taken on each protocol are then incorporated into letters to be sent to the PIs or contacts listed in ARIA.  Preparation of the letters concerning the IRB’s action, in general, occurs on Thursday or Friday, and many are ready for the Chair’s approval by electronic signature that same day.  The order of priority for preparing and signing the letters is as follows: New, Tabled, Updates (modifications), Continuing Reviews, and Major Contingencies protocols.  Electronic signing of letters by the Chair is typically completed on or before close of office hours on Friday.  The PI receives an e-mail following electronic signing by the Chair advising that the letter is in ARIA for viewing.  Other protocols submitted for Expedited or Exempt reviews, as well as information supplied in response to Minor Contingencies, are processed as received in the IRB office.  In general, 1-3 days turn-around can be anticipated for such submissions, although some variation is to be expected if unusually heavy agendas have been experienced by the convened IRB committees.  PIs may contact the IRB office to check on the status of a protocol if no response has been received within a week of the protocol being on an agenda.

Jimmie Valentine, Ph.D.
September 24, 2004