Special Considerations

If you receive word that you will be audited by a federal agency (FDA, OHRP, NIH, etc.), please notify Duke University Office of Audit, Risk & Compliance (OARC) and the IRB immediately and we will assist you.

The policy called “Permissible Interim Activities” provides clarification regarding research-related activities that are allowed in the interim between IRB approval and Institutional approval.

Development of a single case report for publishing or presentation at a meeting generally would not require submission of a proposal to the IRB.  However, development of multiple case reports (a case series) to draw conclusions that are applicable in a generalizable context, or to address a hypothesis, may meet the federal definition of 'research involving human subjects' and requires review by the IRB. Please navigate to the Case Report Policy if you are developing a case report.