UCSF’s CHR or WIRB?

UC Hastings utilizes the following IRBs: Western IRB (WIRB) and UCSF’s IRB (UCSF’s Committee on Human Research).

UCSF’s IRB is called the Committee on Human Research or “CHR.”  The CHR is currently comprised of four IRB panels of equal authority and responsibility:

• Laurel Heights (IRB Reg. # IRB00003471)
• Parnassus (IRB Reg. # IRB00000229)
• San Francisco General Hospital (IRB Reg. # IRB00000230)
• UCSF Mt. Zion (IRB Reg. # IRB00005096)

Western IRB or WIRB is also available for UC Hastings researchers.  WIRB is an independent IRB that provides review services for contracted institutions and investigators, such as UC Hastings.  WIRB’s IRB Registration number is IRB0000053.

A complete list of UC Hastings designated IRBs can be found by searching the OHRP database. 

Which IRB should I designate? 

UC Hastings has a contract with WIRB that provides for its use on an as needed basis; there are no formal criteria for designating WIRB as IRB of record.  In contrast, UCSF’s CHR may only provide IRB services for UC Hastings under certain circumstances.  Additional fees will apply for use of the WIRB review process and may apply for use of the UCSF process.

Determining which IRB to go through will depend on the answers to the following questions:

• Is the research “minimal risk”?
• Are you involved in a collaborative project with UCSF (do you or will you have a consulting or subcontract arrangement with UCSF for this particular research project)?
• Is your UCSF partner situated within UCSF or with one of UCSF’s affiliated institutions?

If your research is not “minimal risk,” you must use WIRB, though exception may be made for researchers who have joint appointments at both UC Hastings and UCSF.  UCSF’s CHR will only review studies for non-affiliated institutions such as UC Hastings when the study is deemed “minimal risk,” whether or not the study is to be conducted in collaboration with UCSF. 

If you are submitting a research protocol that does not involve UCSF faculty, staff or researchers (including UCSF-affiliated institutions), you must use WIRB. UCSF will only act as IRB of record for protocols submitted by investigators employed by UCSF or UCSF-affiliated institutions.

If you are involved in collaborative research with UCSF on a minimal risk study, it may be more cost-efficient and expedient for you to designate UCSF’s CHR as IRB of record.   All study protocols submitted by UCSF faculty, staff or students must be approved by the CHR (the site of the study and the source of funding, if any, do not matter).  For a UC Hastings researcher to use WIRB under these circumstances would increase administrative burden and cost.

If you are involved in collaborative research with a UCSF-affiliated institution (e.g., the Institute on Aging, the Gladstone Institutes, etc.) on a minimal risk study, it may reduce administrative burden to use UCSF’s CHR.  However, using CHR under these circumstances may not be most cost-efficient.  UCSF’s CHR will charge a review fee for research submitted by UCSF-affiliated institutions.  Refer to the fees for CHR and WIRB to compare the cost of using UCSF’s CHR versus WIRB under various circumstances. 

For assistance in determining which IRB should review your protocol, please contact Jennifer Dunn (dunnj@uchastings.edu).