10 Jul UROC endorsement for clinical studies required for IRB review

Beginning July 28, study teams working with applicable non-oncology clinical studies must complete UW | UW Health Research Operations Committee (UROC) review and submit a UROC endorsement letter as part of their IRB application.

This process change allows study teams to submit their research for IRB review only after they have undergone UROC review and have incorporated any operational changes identified by UROC into their protocol.

If a UROC review is required, study teams must upload a UROC endorsement letter on the UROC page in ARROW when prompted. Research will not proceed to IRB review without the UROC endorsement letter.  As UROC review functionally replaces SMPH feasibility review, the current SMPH feasibility page phased out. Study teams should work with their departments to determine if department leadership requires feasibility checklists to be submitted to their office.

The UROC 2024 Submission and Review Schedule will help teams plan their submissions accordingly. Teams should pay special attention to the notable dates for 2024 listed beneath the schedule.

If there is uncertainty about whether a study requires UROC review, researchers may review the UROC – Required Studies / Exempted Studies chart. If the research requires UROC review, requirements for submission are available on the UROC KB page.

Any questions about the UROC process may be directed to Stephanie Sanders at slsanders2@wisc.edu.