Join SMART IRB Agreement V3.0

To begin the joinder process, users must log in or register an account, following these instructions, as applicable. This process should be completed by an IRB/HRPP administrator, research compliance personnel, or other senior institutional leadership.

Log In: If you previously used the Joinder and/or Online Reliance System, your account has been carried over, and you will be asked to log in via one of the following methods, using the same email address as your existing SMART IRB account:

• Research Organization: If your organization is listed in the drop-down on the SMART IRB Reliance System Log In page (“Search organization to log in”).
• Please note this option can only be used by institutions that are part of the InCommon Federation
• NIH: If you are an employee and contractor of the NIH with a designated NIH email address.
• Login.gov: If neither of the above methods apply. Please note for most institutions, this will be the applicable option and will require you to create a Login.gov account using the email address that matches your SMART IRB account.

Register an Account: Please follow these instructions to access the SMART IRB Reliance System. If you encounter any difficulties, please contact us.

Add No-Reply@smartirb.net to your email contacts to ensure that the verification email does not end up in spam.

Review/update institutional information to generate your institution’s Joinder Agreement.

• Review/update the Institution Information section, including basic information about your institution, federal assurance applicability, and CTSA affiliation (if applicable). Learn More

• • Please note that changes to your institution’s legal name or presence/absence of an IRB will require verification by the SMART IRB team.

• Review/update your institution’s Contact Lists. Learn More. The SMART IRB Point of Contact and Alternative Point of Contact (if applicable) will be listed on the SMART IRB Participating Institutions page.
• Optional: Complete your Institutional Profile to provide fellow Participating Institutions important information about your institution, relevant legal jurisdiction, etc. Institutional Profiles may be viewed/downloaded from the SMART IRB Participating Institutions page. Learn More.

Review the Joinder Agreement you generated and send to your institutional official for electronic signature. Learn More. 

• From the Reliance System landing page, select Agreements >> New Submissions.
• View your institution’s Joinder by selecting “Agreement PDF.” Review and confirm all contact information listed is correct.
• Obtain the signature of your Institutional Official by clicking “Request Signature.”
• Consider adding yourself and/or other relevant individuals as cc’d to the email by scrolling on the institutional official information.
• The Institutional Official will receive an email requesting their signature; they will review, sign, and submit the Joinder electronically. If the Joinder Agreement is not signed and submitted in 7 days, a new agreement would need to be generated in the Reliance System.

A SMART IRB representative will review your Joinder Agreement and/or Indemnification Addendum and contact you with any questions.

Your institution’s SMART IRB Agreement and/or Indemnification Addendum will be reviewed by a SMART IRB representative (typically within 1 business day). Please note that the Joinder Agreement must be active prior to initiating any new reliance arrangements under the SMART IRB Agreement.

• You can also log in to the Reliance System to check the status of your institution’s Agreement(s) Learn More.
• Once you have received notice of activation, you may use the SMART IRB Agreement to collaborate with other Participating Institutions.