RCB News

New Single IRB Requirement for Federally Funded Cooperative Research Goes into Effect January 20, 2020

The 2018 Revised Common Rule requires federally funded studies that involve more than one institution to use a Single IRB when IRB review and approval is required. The effective date of the requirement is January 20, 2020. 

Researchers expecting to receive a federal award in the near future for a collaborative research project that requires IRB review should contact the Texas A&M IRB to develop a plan to address the Single IRB requirement for that study.

All studies requiring Single IRB review will be routed through the Texas A&M IRB for the processing of institutional requirements prior to any Single IRB ethical review. 

The Single IRB requirement applies to federally funded research and all research sites within the United States except when governed by American Indian or Alaskan Native tribal law or when the funding agency determines that the use of a single IRB is not appropriate.

Please contact the IRB at irb@tamu.edu or 979.458.4067 for assistance.

For additional information see, https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/single-irb-requirement/114b-exception1/index.html).

Texas A&M University Biosafety Manual Available

The Office of Biosafety is pleased to announce that a Texas A&M University Biosafety Manual is now available online. The Texas A&M Biosafety Manual was developed by the Office of Biosafety to provide information to faculty, staff, and students on how to work safely in the laboratory with biohazards and to maintain compliance with university rules. The Texas A&M University Biosafety Manual can be accessed here. Personnel who work with biohazards, including recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules, are encouraged to utilize this resource. For questions, please contact the Biosafety staff at 979.862.4549 or biosafety@tamu.edu.