Office of the Institutional Review Board
Supports the IRBs operated by ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë.
The Office of the Institutional Review Board (OIRB) is an administrative support office for the ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). An IRB is a federally-mandated committee that serves to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects. The IRB reviews all research projects conducted by agents of ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë that involve humans, identifiable data about or biospecimens from living humans prior to the commencement of the research study. The ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë IRBs are accredited by the .
Services the OIRB provides to researchers include:
- Assistance with IRB application submissions (including amendments and annual continuing review reports);
- Guidance regarding FDA regulations and research involving FDA-regulated test articles;
- Assistance with appropriate reporting of unexpected issues that arise during the execution of human research studies.
Services the IRB Reliance Team provides to researchers include:
- Adding Relying Sites when using the ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë IRB as a single IRB for a multicenter study
- Applications for single IRB review when the ÑÇÖÞÎÞÂë SA IRB is not the IRB for all study sites (External IRB Studies);
- Assistance with training research personnel;
- Verifying credentialing;
- Approving Research Scope of Practice for study team members who do not have a locally recognized medical license;
- Research participant recruitment assistance via the Find A Study website;
- Assistance with VA Human Research studies
Office Staff
OIRB | IRB Reliance Team |
![]() Jeannette M. Watterson, PhD | ![]() Brandie Otten |
![]() Stephanie C. Reyes, BA, CIP | ![]() Patricia Alexander |
![]() Rebecca Rivera, BS, MS | ![]() Alyssa Hernandez |
![]() Cecilia A. Hinojosa | ![]() Stephen Blake Luis |
![]() Celia Aviles, BS, MPH, CCRC | ![]() Bhumi Patel |
![]() Maria Herrera, MSW | ![]() Angelika Malolos |
![ALTC building](/vpr/sites/vpr/files/2023-08/altc.jpg)
Submissions to the IRB:
Resources
Human Research Protection Program
Information for Research Participants
Contact Us
OIRB
Phone: 210-567-8250
IRB Reliance Team
Phone: 210-567-8555