Reliance Agreement Information

What is a Reliance Agreement?

A Reliance Agreement is an agreement between two or more institutions engaged in a human subjects research project. A Reliance Agreement allows one or more institutions to cede review to another central, or single IRB (sIRB). This results in only one IRB having primary oversight over a human subjects research project for several collaborators from different institutions.

When is a Reliance Agreement needed?

A Reliance Agreement is needed if one of the following are true:

• You are a Principal Investigator (PI) on a human subjects research project reviewed at Fordham and plan to have non-Fordham investigators engaged in the project as well.
• You are a Fordham researcher and will be an investigator on a human subjects research project, but the PI is at another institution.

Note: Reliance Agreements are not applicable to exempt research

Some research projects might not actually need a Reliance Agreement.   If you have questions about making this determination email Michele Kuchera, IRB Director.

What is the process to request a Reliance Agreement?

If a Reliance Agreement is needed, please fill out a Single IRB Reliance Request form which can be found on the Info page in the Mentor app. This form will give us the information to begin the process to establish a Reliance Agreement. This form can be submitted to Michele Kuchera, IRB Director.

Once you have submitted a Reliance Agreement Request Form it will be reviewed. If there are any further questions, you will be contacted. If there are no further questions, emails to other institution(s) to establish a Reliance Request will be sent and you will be copied on all emails.

Institutions vary on the process and platforms used for Reliance Agreements. Some institutions use SMART IRB as a platform; others have internal platforms and/or forms needed. At most institutions, it is common for a PI to have to submit a Reliance Agreement Request with their IRB as the first step. Determinations of Reliance Agreements are specific to each institution and each research project.

Researchers should plan for additional time in the IRB review process if a Reliance Agreement is needed.