Automated E-IRB Messages
Do Not Reply (or Forward)
The E-IRB system is designed to automatically disseminate email at key points in the IRB review work flow (for details on who receives email, see the July 8, 2019 issue of The Online Edge ). If you receive an E-IRB message that you wish to share with your co-researchers, please be sure to remove the rs_ori@uky.edu address from your recipient line. Failure to remove rs_ori@uky.edu from your recipient line results in your messages being sent to a general mailbox that is monitored by ORI staff for researcher inquiries and responses. Receipt of impertinent emails slows down ORI’s response time for those who do require direct attention from staff. We appreciate your mindfulness in helping us be as efficient as possible. Thank you!



FAQ: “Why isn’t there a link to the E-IRB system in the notification emails I receive?”

Answer: You may receive emails from individual ORI staff or co-workers with the E-IRB system link, but for security purposes  automated  messages issued by the E-IRB system will not contain a link to the E-IRB system. It is recommended that you bookmark the E-IRB log-in page, or add a shortcut to it on your computer, for easy future access.  
2019 E-IRB in Review
2019 marked a full year of E-IRB use for all Full Review and Expedited Review Applications, and approximately two years for new Exemptions applications. In addition to reaching this milestone, the system underwent major design changes to accommodate the revised federal regulations that went into effect January 22, 2019. Three cheers for researchers, ORI staff, and IRB members for completing these transitions!

Furthermore, over the course of the year, the E-IRB IT team (select programmers from Research Information Services) put into production 10 system updates averaging 14 to-do items each. The updates varied between high priority to-do items that were either bugs preventing the system from functioning properly, easy cosmetic changes, or features that were needed to get the system into full operation in the manner initially planned. While creating an in-house IRB application system has its challenges, we are fortunate that our IT team is home-based and willing to listen and respond with ideas on how to accommodate our operations. Three cheers for Research Information Services!

Coming down the pike for 2020 are even more new features and bug squashing, so please put on your seatbelts and patiently join us for the ride!