Vanderbilt’s phased transition to its recently launched Social, Behavioral and Educational Research Institutional Review Board (VU SBER IRB) will reach its next major milestone on July 1, when phase two of the launch begins, building on the successful implementation of phase one earlier this year.
Since the soft launch of phase one in March, the VU SBER IRB has processed more than 60 submissions, and more than 290 researchers have participated in HRPP 101 training session or attended live office hours.
The Vanderbilt University Human Research Protections Program has already made several process improvements based on direct researcher feedback, which has helped to streamline submission steps and improve clarity around required documentation.
“As we move into the second phase of our program, we want to sincerely thank our research community for your continued patience, support and thoughtful feedback,” said Liudmila Tahai, director of the Human Research Protections Program. “Your insights have been invaluable in shaping our progress so far. As we expand our research portfolio and adapt to new workloads, your ongoing understanding and collaboration are more important than ever. We’re excited to grow and improve together. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey.”
What’s new in phase two?
The most significant change in phase two is that the VU SBER IRB will begin reviewing new exempt SBER studies, in addition to the expedited, standard and international studies already included in phase one.
Beginning July 1:
- All new exempt, expedited, standard and international SBER studies will be submitted to the VU SBER IRB.
- BRANY-approved studies will begin transitioning to the VU SBER IRB at natural review or reevaluation points, such as annual continuing reviews.
Biomedical and clinical studies will remain under the oversight of the VUMC IRB, along with ongoing reviews and modifications of studies previously approved by VUMC. Phase three, expected to begin in early 2026, will transition all active SBER studies currently overseen by the VUMC IRB to the VU SBER IRB at their next required review. This will complete the university’s shift to a university-led SBER IRB program.
Resources for researchers
To support this transition, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation continues to offer training, office hours and a suite of online resources, including:
- A decision-support tool to help researchers determine whether IRB review is needed and where to direct their submissions
- A dedicated VU SBER IRB website with comprehensive guidance on submission procedures, timelines and policies
- The VERA IRB module in Vanderbilt’s Electronic Research Administration system, which streamlines protocol submission and tracking
- Beginning July 1, regular office hours will be offered every Tuesday and Wednesday, 1–2 p.m. over Zoom, and “Introduction to the VU Social, Behavioral and Educational Research (SBER) IRB” sessions will be on June 25 at 10 a.m.
Next steps
Researchers must complete the required CITI training before submitting protocols for review. Refresher training takes about 20 minutes; first-time training takes longer but remains valid for three years. Training can be completed at about.citiprogram.org.
Before submitting, researchers should prepare their protocol using the VU SBER IRB protocol template and follow the step-by-step instructions provided here.
All IRB review requests submitted to the VU SBER IRB must be signed off by the department chair or their designee. This requirement is consistent with current VUMC IRB practices and helps ensure institutional support and appropriate oversight at the departmental level.
For more information about the transition, submission guidelines or upcoming events, visit the VU SBER IRB website or contact the VU SBER team at irb@vanderbilt.edu.
