1. IRB Reporting Requirements & Reportable New Information (RNIs)
The who, what, when, where, and why of RNIs
Alma Castro, MA, CIP, PhD Candidate
IRB Review Specialist

2. Overview Why report? What should be reported? When should I report?
Where should I report?
Who should submit the report?
Examples / Case Studies

3. Why report? Regulations!*
DHHS & FDA regulations [*45 CFR (4)(i) & 21 CFR (b)(1)] require that IRBs have:
Written procedures for ensuring prompt reporting of
a) any unanticipated problems,
b) serious continuing noncompliance, or
c) a suspension/termination of the study
DHHS & FDA regulations [*45 CFR (3)(iii) & 21 CFR 50.25(b)(5)] require that IRBs evaluate new information that becomes available during a study which may require the IRB/Investigator to reassess the risk/benefit to participant.

4. What should be reported?
New or Increased Risk
Adverse Events (Internal & External)
Findings/Allegations of Regulatory Non-Compliance
Audits/Inspections by Federal Agency
Protocol Deviations/Violations
Breach of Confidentiality
Participant Complaints
Protocol Suspension/Termination
INVESTIGATOR MANUAL
APPENDIX A:
PROMPT REPRORTING REQUIREMENTS

5. New or Increased Risk
Information that indicates a new or increased risk, or a new safety issue. For example:
New information (e.g., an interim analysis, safety monitoring report, publication in the literature, sponsor report, or investigator finding) that indicates an increase in the frequency or magnitude of a previously known risk, or uncovers a new risk that might adversely affect the safety of the participants or the conduct of the research.
An investigator brochure, package insert, or device labeling is revised to indicate an increase in the frequency or magnitude of a previously known risk, or describe a new risk.
Withdrawal, restriction, or modification of a marketed approval of a drug, device, or biologic used in a research protocol.
Protocol violation that harmed participants or others or that indicates participants or others might be at increased risk of harm.
Complaint of a participant that indicates participants or others might be at increased risk of harm or at risk of a new harm.
Any changes significantly increasing the risk to participants and affecting the conduct of the research.

6. Reporting Adverse Events
Harm experienced by a participant or other individual, which in the opinion of the investigator are unexpected and at least possibly related to the research procedures.
A harm is “unexpected” when its specificity or severity is inconsistent with risk information previously reviewed and approved by the IRB (via protocol, consent forms, etc.) in terms of nature, severity, frequency, and characteristics of the study population.
A harm is at least “possibly related” to the research procedures if in the opinion of the investigator, the research procedures more likely than not caused the event/harm.
When in doubt report via RNI
Useful to maintain Adverse Event Tracking log so that you can identify patterns that may not be apparent from the start.

7. Regulatory Non-Compliance
Conducting human research procedures without, or prior to, securing IRB approval
Failure to obtain/document informed consent from participants
Improper use of a witness during consent process
Investigator not maintaining regulatory or participant files
Failure to secure continuing approval (e.g. lapse in IRB approval)

8. Audits/Inspections by Federal Agency
Report any audits by federal agencies such as FDA, OHPR, DOD, VA, etc.
If you get a pre-audit notification you can contact QIP who can assist you in preparing for an audit
Any pertinent information included in a post-audit notification such as a suspension or termination of the research by the sponsor should be reported to the IRB immediately

9. Protocol Deviations/Violations
Failure to follow protocol due to actions or inactions of investigators, staff, or participants
Any deviation from the IRB-approved protocol which places participants at increased risk of harm or requires change to the protocol in order to eliminate an apparent hazard to participants

10. Breach of Confidentiality
Stolen laptop containing identifiable study information
containing the names of participants inadvertently sent to individuals outside the research team
Breached information/data may be damaging to participants’ financial standing, employability, reputation or place participant at criminal or civil liability
Note – Any breach of confidentiality of Research Data will also need to be reviewed by Harvard IT per the Harvard University Information Security Policy.

11. Participant Compliant
A complaint of a participant that cannot be resolved by the research team. The complaint would most likely be significant and may involve participants rights, welfare, safety, or willingness to participate

12. Protocol Suspension/Termination
Any premature suspension or termination of the research by the sponsor, investigator, or institution

13. When should I report?
Within 5 business days from the time the study team became aware of the information

14. Where should I report?
All reporting should be done in ESTR via a Reportable New Information (RNI).

15. ESTR RNI Submission – Key Elements
Date PI became aware of the information
Category of the new information
Description of the occurrence/incident
If (and why) the incident/new information in the PI’s opinion:
Poses a change to the study risk(s)
Requires a modification to the approved research
Corrective Action Plan
PI is encouraged to propose a plan
IRB Review Specialist (and QIP, if engaged) will weigh in
Convened IRB, if engaged, will weigh in

16. Corrective Action Plans
Should include corrective actions and preventative actions
Corrective actions would include:
RNI
Disclosure
Study Audit
Preventive actions would include:
Modifications to protocol
Modifications to consent
Re-consent of participants
Re-training of staff

17. ESTR RNI Smartform

18. RNI ESTR Smartform

19. RNI ESTR Smartform

20. ESTR RNI Submission & Process
Once submitted the RNI will first be reviewed by your IRB Review Specialist.
You may be asked for further clarification and details about the information you provided in ESTR.
The IRB Review Specialist will consider whether the incident is
An unanticipated problem involving risk to subjects or others
Serious noncompliance
Continuing noncompliance
If the RNI involves any of the above 3 designations it will be reviewed at an IRB meeting by the full board.

21. Who should submit report?
Any study team member listed in ESTR can submit an RNI for a study they are affiliated with.
If the RNI goes to a convened IRB meeting for review and/or results in an official IRB correspondence letter, this will be addressed to the PI of the study and cc’d to any relevant parties (e.g. Dept. Chair, SPA, Funding Sponsor, Federal Agency, etc).
The IRB can submit an RNI as needed to report on a study

22. Case Study #1
A research assistant is traveling for work with their personal laptop which they also use for their research. The RA uses this laptop to access REDCap and conducts their analysis of data on a dedicated HSPH department server specifically for this study. The RA needs to use their Harvard Key to get into the server and their laptop requires a login/password to access. The RA’s bag is stolen at the airport along with his laptop.

23. Case Study #2
A participant is in a study that requires them to wear an activity monitor that will collect data on their physical activity, heartrate, and sleeping. The participant starts getting a rash where they are wearing the device and after 4 days wearing the device they decide to take it off and stop with the data collection portion of the study. The participant notifies the study about this at the next study visit which is 2 weeks after they stop wearing the device.

24. Case Study #3
A research study collects data from participants via an online survey and no identifiable information is being collected. The online survey is made up of various questionnaires. During the course of the study the research team realizes that they need a new questionnaire to further collect information about participants social media consumption habits so they add in another questionnaire. They collect the new social media consumption habits data from 200 participants before the new questionnaire was approved via a Modification.

25. Questions? Quality Improvement Program (QIP) Staff
Alyssa Speier, Associate Director, Regulatory Affairs & Research Compliance,
Lisa Gabel, Senior QA/QI Specialist,
Scott Meyers, QA/QI Specialist,
IRB Operations Staff
Kim Serpico, Assistant Director, IRB Operations,
Nicole Insalaco, Senior IRB Review Specialist,
Grace Ayers, IRB Review Specialist,
Alma Castro, IRB Review Specialist,
Liz Ehrlich, IRB Review Specialist,
Additional Resources & Links
OHRA Website:
OHRA QIP Page:
Investigator Manual:
ESTR Support and Training: