SMART IRB
SMART IRB is not an IRB. It is a master reliance agreement with an accompanying reliance platform and resources that together offer a roadmap for single IRB (sIRB) review.
SMART IRB is not an IRB. It is a master reliance agreement with an accompanying reliance platform and resources that together offer a roadmap for single IRB (sIRB) review.
Since October 2020, NIH has been using the SMART IRB to document and coordinate reliance arrangements with fellow Participating Institutions. Use of the SMART agreement is documented in one of two ways:
- The SMART online reliance platform - our preferred method that results in a reliance determination being issued by email.
- SMART Letter of Authorization - a standalone document that outlines NIH's position on flexible terms such as HIPAA and conflicts of interest and is signed by the parties.
NIH teams wanting to use SMART IRB should review the Participating Institutions list and then Request a Reliance Agreement. The NIH IRBO determines if SMART IRB can be used and provides NIH teams with further instructions.