Along with review by the IRB, research studies involving human subjects may require review by other departments or committees at Brown before research activities can begin. You can contact the applicable departments or committees to start these “ancillary reviews” before, during, or after your submission to the IRB. Click on the links below to find out more.

Because each department or committee reviews research studies with their own scope of interest, the timeline for ancillary reviews are independent of each other and will not delay IRB review. For example, the IRB will review your protocol even if your IBC application for blood sample collection has not yet been approved or you have not yet submitted an application to OIT for a new software program.

Importantly, if the IRB approves your study before an ancillary review is complete, it is the Principal Investigator’s responsibility to submit an amendment request to make any required changes to the protocol based on the findings of an ancillary review. The IRB may not maintain an approved protocol with content disapproved by an ancillary review. You may not begin any human subjects research activities until you bring the IRB protocol into compliance with any applicable ancillary review determination. As such, we encourage you to work proactively with all ancillary review departments and committees before submitting to the IRB.

 

Conflict of Interest (COI)

Office of Information Technology (OIT)

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

Radiation Safety Committee (RSC)

 

Controller’s Office

Athletic Compliance Office

Research Contracts

Export Control

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight (ESCRO)

Strategic Procurement & Contracts (SPC)

Conflict of interest (coi)

The Conflict of Interest in Research policy applies to all researchers at Brown. Conflicts of interest in research may arise in situations where a researcher’s personal, financial, or other interests could affect, or appear to affect, the conduct of their research activities. Having a conflict does not imply improper conduct of research; rather, COIs must be identified and managed, reduced, or eliminated so that they do not threaten the integrity of scientific investigations and the public’s trust in academic research.

Conflict of Interest Reporting for Faculty and Researchers:
Faculty and researchers complete and/or update their COI Reporting form in InfoEd. See here for more details on electronic COI reporting for faculty and researchers. Please also review the special Requirements for Investigators funded by PHS or foundations that follow PHS COI regulations for additional reporting requirements.

For more information, visit the Conflict of Interest webpage or contact [email protected].

Office of Information Technology (OIT)

Brown requires all data to be categorized according to its Data Risk Classifications and appropriately protected according to the Minimum Security Standards for Endpoints or Servers. Brown’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) partners with researchers to ensure these requirements are met.

In addition, OIT conducts a security review of all software used for research purposes to ensure they meet Brown’s security standards for research data. OIT’s Software and Services with Pre-Approved Risk Levels is a catalog of all vetted research software with assigned risk levels. OIT strongly encourages you to design your study using vetted software. Studies intending to use software not on this list are encouraged to reach out early in the process of writing a protocol to ensure there is adequate time to review any new software products.

If the data you intend to use meets the criteria for Level 3 Risk or if you propose to use a software or service that OIT has not vetted, please contact OIT for a security review. OIT will communicate with you directly to address any questions.

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is responsible for regulating the use of biohazardous agents to ensure compliance with appropriate regulations and guidelines, and to safeguard the health and safety of Brown University personnel and the community. If your research involves the collection or handling of human source material (i.e., blood, urine, tissue, cell lines, etc.) on Brown campus and/or by Brown research personnel, you will need to submit a Biological Research Authorization (BRA) for IBC review. The Brown IBC holds 11 scheduled meetings per year. A BRA must be submitted no later than one month prior to the IBC meeting date for consideration at the meeting. 

To learn more about the IBC and access its application, please click here.

Radiation Safety Committee (RSC)

The Brown University Radiation Safety Committee (RSC) serves as the official governing body for faculty, staff and students on all matters relating to the use of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation in research and teaching. The RSC is responsible for overseeing research and teaching authorizations (radioactive material) and certificates of registration (radiation machine) to ensure conformity with Rhode Island Department of Health legislation, Rhode Island Code of Regulations, Title 216, Chapter 40, Subchapter 20-Radiation.

Annually, RSC meetings are held the second Wednesday of February, May, September and November. Submit an Application for Authorization to Use Radioactive Material/Radiation Machine, or amendments, to the campus Radiation Safety Officer two weeks prior to the scheduled RSC meeting.

To learn more about the RSC and access its application, please visit the Environmental Health and Safety Homepage.

Controller's Office

The Brown University’s Controller’s Office is responsible for ensuring the proper stewardship of the University’s financial resources. The IRB relies on the Controller’s Office to determine which forms of compensation comply with federal and State laws, and University policy. We strongly encourage you to design your study using one of the compensation methods approved by the Controller’s Office.

If you intend to use a method of compensation that is not approved, you will need to contact [email protected] for consultation and approval for its use before including the compensation in an HRPP Application.

Athletic Compliance Office

To ensure compliance with NCAA rules and regulations, the Brown University Athletic Compliance Office reviews research involving Brown's student-athletes when research focuses on or targets this special population, or when the data collected may uniquely impact Brown’s student-athletes. Ancillary review is not necessary when Brown’s student-athletes may enroll in research as part of a study’s eligibility criteria applicable to Brown’s general student body
population.

All research studies must be submitted to the Athletic Compliance Office by the last day of each month to ensure they are reviewed on the 2nd Monday of the following month.

Please contact Colleen Kelly with questions or for additional information.

The Office of Research Contracting reviews, negotiates, and signs incoming and outgoing Data Use Agreements (DUAs) and Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) on behalf of research investigators and Brown. This review process may also engage the Office of Information Technology to consult on any data security management plans and terms related to data security within DUAs and with the Export Control for certain MTAs. You should allow for additional time for these reviews, as well as the negotiation of applicable terms and conditions that may be required.

For questions about when a DUA or MTA is required, please contact [email protected].

Export Control

Export Controls are federal laws that regulate the shipment or transfer, by whatever means, of controlled items, software, technology, or services out of the U.S. Importantly, these laws also restrict the release of certain information to foreign nationals here in the U.S. Export Controls could affect foreign scientists visiting Brown, international collaborations, international travel, sponsored research, international shipping, and/or international fieldwork. If you are conducting research activities outside the U.S., the HRPP will forward your application to the Export Control Officer for a compliance review. The Export Control Officer will contact you directly if they have any questions.

More information about U.S. Export Control regulations related to international travel, field work, or shipping, can be found on Brown’s export control website. If you have questions, please contact the Export Controls Officer.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight (ESCRO) Committee

The Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight (ESCRO) Committee ensures that Brown human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research is conducted only after full consideration is given to all relevant scientific, medical, regulatory, and ethical issues, including compliance with Rhode Island statutes. The ESCRO reviews human subjects research involving hESC where the donor may be identified by researchers; where there is interaction or intervention with a living individual and information about such individual, or tissue from such individual, is obtained; and/or derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from identifiable patient, volunteer, or repository samples.

The ESCRO is an ad hoc committee and not a standing committee that meets routinely, therefore it is imperative that any investigator proposing to use hESCs and/or iPSCs contact the [email protected] well in advance of requiring approval to begin their research to allow time for a committee meeting to be called.

For an ESCRO committee application, please contact [email protected].

Strategic Procurement & Contracts (SPC)

Strategic Procurement & Contracts (SPC) provides guidance regarding supplier selection and is responsible for reviewing, negotiating, and approving contracts for the purchase of goods and services with the exception that the Office of Information Technology (OIT) provides contract review for all IT contracts. All contracts for the purchase of goods and services are processed through the Brown Contract Management System (BCM). SPC has developed a flowchart to help determine what needs to go through BCM.

For questions about BCM or contracts for the purchase of goods or services, please contact: [email protected].