Skip to main content
Participating Institutions
including all CTSA hubs

Glossary

Supporting single IRB review

Advancing collaborative research

Investigators: Submit/view a reliance request on the Online Reliance System.

IRB/HRPP Staff: Update institution information in Joinder; view pending requests in the Online Reliance System.

SMART IRB is a platform designed to ease common challenges associated with initiating multisite research and to provide a roadmap for institutions to implement the NIH Single IRB Review policy (effective date: January 25, 2018). Freely available for institutions and investigators, SMART IRB is an integrated, comprehensive platform that allows flexibility in the size and scope of collaboration to enable IRB reliance for multisite studies across the nation, regardless of funding status.

A roadmap to single IRB review

Image of a document for signature

First step: Institutions join the SMART IRB Agreement

Streamline IRB review for multisite studies and eliminate the time and effort of negotiating IRB authorization agreements for each new study. Learn more about joining today.

Icon that signifies a group of people together providing guidance

Start Using the Online Reliance System for your studies

The Online Reliance System allows investigators and institution POCs to request, track, and document reliance arrangements on a study-by-study basis. Get started.

An icon that shows people talking, demonstrating their expertise

Check out our SOPs, Templates, and Checklists

Browse our Resources or visit the Learning Center for Investigators and for IRB/HRPP Administrators to access training videos, start-up packages, and more.

An icon that shows people talking, demonstrating their expertise

Access Expertise across the Nation

Connect with a SMART IRB ambassador in your region. Institutions and IRBs can also request guidance through our consultation service.

Joining and using the SMART IRB platform is free; however, some institutions may charge IRB fees in connection with IRB Review activities.

Subscribe to the Mailing List

Stay up to date on news, resources, and educational offerings.

Proposed SMART IRB Agreement v3.0

The comment period has closed, and comments received from Participating Institutions and stakeholders are now under review.

Learn more about the revisions to the Agreement.

SMART Talk:

A monthly community forum

November 13:

The *New* SMART IRB Reliance System

Watch past SMART Talks and access webinars, slides, and related resources in the Learning Center.