IRB Guidelines - Adverse Events

Federal regulations [45CFR46.103(b)(5) and 21CFR56.108(b)(1)] require the IRB to ensure that investigators promptly report "any unanticipated problems in involving risk to subjects or others."

All adverse events as defined below must be reported to the IRB. The type of event as defined below determines the reporting requirements:

1. Significant Adverse Events

Investigators must report the event as soon as possible, but no later than five (5) weekdays after first awareness of the problem. Significant adverse events include, but are not limited to:

a. any death, excluding death due to the progression of a disease process; OR

b. the combination of the following three conditions:

unexpected - any adverse experience that is not identified in nature, severity, or frequency in the consent form, and is not due to the progression of a disease process.

serious – includes, for example, any experience that is fatal or life threatening, is permanently or significantly disabling (physically or psychologically), requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization, contributes to a congenital anomaly/birth defect or is any medical event that requires treatment to prevent one of the medical outcomes listed above.

related/possibly related – as determined by the research team.

The same type of events from another study site should also be reported to the IRB within ten (10) weekdays of receipt.

The IRB relies a great deal on the expertise of our investigators to assess SAEs. Therefore, the investigator must provide advice concerning:

the relationship of the SAE to the drug, device, intervention, or study protocol
whether or not a change in protocol is necessary to minimize risks, and
whether or not information about the SAE is relevant to consent and/or re-consent of participants already enrolled.

Reporting Requirement

Once the Principal Investigator (PI) determines that an adverse event meets the IRBs’ reporting requirements, he/she must report the SAE, and related safety information, to the IRB on the required Significant Adverse Event Report form provided for this purpose. Supporting documents, including a copy of the Informed Consent (IC), should also be attached. For reasons of confidentiality, subjects names must not be included in the report. If the adverse event results in the need to revise the informed consent, or other study documents, the PI must submit a study amendment to the IRB.

2. Trends in One Type of Event:

Any new trend toward one type of adverse event within a protocol, serious or not, should be reported to the IRB as soon as the trend is noted. This includes a trend in an expected side effect or noted risk that has created concern.

Reporting Requirements

To report a trend, submit the Event Tracking Log with an explanatory cover letter.

3. Other Adverse Events

All events that do not meet the criteria of significant or trends as listed in numbers 1 and 2 above, should be recorded in summary form.

Reporting Requirements

All non-significant adverse events occurring in the research and judged by the research team to be related/possibly related to the research protocol should be recorded in summary form and included with the yearly Continuing Progress Report and at the close of the study. To create the summary, use the Event Tracking Log.

4. IRB Actions

Significant Adverse Events reports are immediately forwarded to Human Subject Administrator and IRB Chair. Reports result in the following actions:

Accept the report – no further action required.
Request additional information pending final action.
Recommend review by the original IRB reviewer(s) or the full IRB for possible action.
Require information concerning the adverse event be provided to subjects or others when such information may relate to their willingness to continue to take part in the research. In some cases, this may require changes in the informed consent, protocol, or other study documents, which may require reconsenting currently enrolled subjects.
If reviewed at a full IRB meeting, the Board may reconsider approval of the study, including suspension and/or termination, if it is determined that the adverse event has resulted in an increased risk to the subjects. In some cases, this could mean modifying (shortening) the continuing review cycle.

5. Reporting to the Sponsor

In accordance with the terms of the Federal Wide Assurance, the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) are notified in a timely manner of 1) serious or continuing noncompliance; 2) significant adverse events involving risk to participants or others; or 3) suspension or termination of IRB approval for a study. Unexpected problems involving risk, unless the event is serious and related to the research, are not routinely submitted to the sponsor.




Research Home Compliance Home Animal Use Biological Safety Feedback Forms Human Subjects Research Policies Responsible Conduct Staff		IRB Guidelines - Adverse Events Federal regulations [45CFR46.103(b)(5) and 21CFR56.108(b)(1)] require the IRB to ensure that investigators promptly report "any unanticipated problems in involving risk to subjects or others." All adverse events as defined below must be reported to the IRB. The type of event as defined below determines the reporting requirements: 1. Significant Adverse Events Investigators must report the event as soon as possible, but no later than five (5) weekdays after first awareness of the problem. Significant adverse events include, but are not limited to: a. any death, excluding death due to the progression of a disease process; OR b. the combination of the following three conditions: unexpected - any adverse experience that is not identified in nature, severity, or frequency in the consent form, and is not due to the progression of a disease process. serious – includes, for example, any experience that is fatal or life threatening, is permanently or significantly disabling (physically or psychologically), requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization, contributes to a congenital anomaly/birth defect or is any medical event that requires treatment to prevent one of the medical outcomes listed above. related/possibly related – as determined by the research team. The same type of events from another study site should also be reported to the IRB within ten (10) weekdays of receipt. The IRB relies a great deal on the expertise of our investigators to assess SAEs. Therefore, the investigator must provide advice concerning: the relationship of the SAE to the drug, device, intervention, or study protocol whether or not a change in protocol is necessary to minimize risks, and whether or not information about the SAE is relevant to consent and/or re-consent of participants already enrolled. Reporting Requirement Once the Principal Investigator (PI) determines that an adverse event meets the IRBs’ reporting requirements, he/she must report the SAE, and related safety information, to the IRB on the required Significant Adverse Event Report form provided for this purpose. Supporting documents, including a copy of the Informed Consent (IC), should also be attached. For reasons of confidentiality, subjects names must not be included in the report. If the adverse event results in the need to revise the informed consent, or other study documents, the PI must submit a study amendment to the IRB. 2. Trends in One Type of Event: Any new trend toward one type of adverse event within a protocol, serious or not, should be reported to the IRB as soon as the trend is noted. This includes a trend in an expected side effect or noted risk that has created concern. Reporting Requirements To report a trend, submit the Event Tracking Log with an explanatory cover letter. 3. Other Adverse Events All events that do not meet the criteria of significant or trends as listed in numbers 1 and 2 above, should be recorded in summary form. Reporting Requirements All non-significant adverse events occurring in the research and judged by the research team to be related/possibly related to the research protocol should be recorded in summary form and included with the yearly Continuing Progress Report and at the close of the study. To create the summary, use the Event Tracking Log. 4. IRB Actions Significant Adverse Events reports are immediately forwarded to Human Subject Administrator and IRB Chair. Reports result in the following actions: Accept the report – no further action required. Request additional information pending final action. Recommend review by the original IRB reviewer(s) or the full IRB for possible action. Require information concerning the adverse event be provided to subjects or others when such information may relate to their willingness to continue to take part in the research. In some cases, this may require changes in the informed consent, protocol, or other study documents, which may require reconsenting currently enrolled subjects. If reviewed at a full IRB meeting, the Board may reconsider approval of the study, including suspension and/or termination, if it is determined that the adverse event has resulted in an increased risk to the subjects. In some cases, this could mean modifying (shortening) the continuing review cycle. 5. Reporting to the Sponsor In accordance with the terms of the Federal Wide Assurance, the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) are notified in a timely manner of 1) serious or continuing noncompliance; 2) significant adverse events involving risk to participants or others; or 3) suspension or termination of IRB approval for a study. Unexpected problems involving risk, unless the event is serious and related to the research, are not routinely submitted to the sponsor. Related Links OHRP's Guidance on Reviewing and Reporting Unanticipated Problems Involving Risks to Subjects or Others and Adverse Events Reporting of Unanticipated Problems Involving Risks to Participants or Others IRB Guidelines - Data and Safety Monitoring Plan Template


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IRB Guidelines - Adverse Events

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