IRB Reciprocity Agreements

IRB Reciprocity for Multi-Site Studies

To expedite IRB approval for multi-site trials and studies among members of the Consortium, we have created an IRB reciprocity agreement among the following 15 UT System institutions:

  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler
  • The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
  • The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
  • The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
  • The University of Texas at Austin
  • The University of Texas at Arlington
  • The University of Texas at Brownsville
  • The University of Texas at Dallas
  • The University of Texas at El Paso
  • The University of Texas at Pan American
  • The University of Texas of the Permian Basin
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio
  • The University of Texas at Tyler

Under the agreement, one institution's IRB can serve as the IRB of record (Reviewing IRB), and other institutions can accept the approval of the IRB of record (Relying IRB). Each study will have an Overall PI at one institution, and each other institution involved must be represented by a Local PI. Here is a brief description of the process:

  1. Each local PI submits Permission to Rely form to Relying Institution
  2. Each Relying Institution approves permission to rely
  3. Local PIs send documents (permission from Relying Institution, Addition of PI form (for addition of local PI), consent with local contact info) to the Overall PI
  4. Overall PI submits documents from Local PIs to Reviewing IRB with initial application or amendment
  5. Reviewing IRB reviews documents and issues approval letter including approval for local sites.
  6. Overall PI sends approval letter and stamped documents to Local PIs
  7. Local PIs submit approval letter and stamped documents to Relying Institution's IRB
  8. Relying Institution's IRB issue Activation Letters

For complete information and the necessary forms, please contact your Office of Sponsored Projects.