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VAIRRS Program Update | February 2025 |
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VAIRRS data integrity continues to improve. At the start of February, 54% of overall project status flags and 56% of institutional review board (IRB) risk level issues were resolved since the launch of the "Data Integrity" page on the Field Staff Reporting (FSR) Dashboard in June 2024. The "Data Integrity" page provides each VAIRRS site with the data and tools needed to ensure the accuracy, completeness, consistency, and reliability of their program’s data.
Please Note: Overall project status includes the Research and Development Committee (RDC) blank yellow flags. Overall project status flags occur when a project's status is inconsistent with boards outside of the RDC. IRB issues occur when a discrepancy exists between IRB status and risk level.
The goal of the VAIRRS team is to remove all flags and issues within the system to ensure VA researchers have access to the most accurate data. Help us improve data integrity. Please continue to review any overall project status flags on an ongoing basis and send them to reviewers or committees to make the necessary updates.
Visit the FSR Dashboard (VA access only) and use the left-hand navigation section to see your site's "Data Integrity" page.
If this is your first time accessing the FSR Dashboard, please complete the FSR Dashboard Request Form to gain access.
We are continuously working to improve the "Data Integrity" page on the FSR Dashboard to enhance and facilitate the user experience. If you would like to speak with the dashboard team about a particular data insight relevant to a specific business need, please do not hesitate to reach out.
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DID YOU KNOW?
VAIRRS Standard Library Updates
VAIRRS approved the changes below to the “7.2A Combined ICF with HIPAA” form during the January VAIRRS Change Control Board (CCB) meeting. Once the form is updated, it will be added to the ORPP&E Standard Form Library within IRBNet and on the VAIRRS SharePoint.
Changes will be made to ensure the ORPP&E and CIRB versions of the Combined ICF and HIPAA are consistent. Additional changes will include the removal of the page range from the form footer and revision of the header title from "RESEARCH CONSENT FORM" to "INFORMED CONSENT FORM AND HIPAA AUTHORIZATION."
Due to the recent EOs, required updates to the IRB Information Sheet are now available. The approved changes to the PCS and STT wizard updates will be published by Friday, February 28. Please click the link below (VA access only) to view all changes.
The VAIRRS team encourages you to take a moment to test these changes in the IRBNet sandbox environment.
If you have any questions or feedback regarding these changes, please contact the VAIRRS Support Team.
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VAIRRS expects to make substantial updates regarding the TMS integration over the coming weeks. The IRBNet, TMS, and VAIRRS Support Teams made the following changes since the start of the integration:
- Enabled TMS integration with IRBNet User Profiles
- Identified a gap in the number of IRBNet User Profiles and successfully matched them with TMS profiles (efforts to identify research personnel and study team members in the TMS database were complicated due to a lack of a research-specific identifier for non-research office personnel affiliated with research)
- Began tracking research personnel and study team members who were not successfully matched
- Identified several alternative search mechanisms to potentially improve the match results (the alternatives were evaluated based on level of automation, load on underlying databases, and number of successful matches)
- Identified a new search mechanism that is being implemented and tested over the next several weeks (the IRBNet users already matched to their TMS profile should not experience any disruption with their training records; it is no longer necessary to submit individual email addresses to VAIRRS@va.gov)
- Incorporated all requests for additional TMS courses, which will be reflected in the TMS training records once the new search mechanism is deployed
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Helpful tip! Did you know that you can download the content of any VAIRRS dashboard (VA access only) table into a Microsoft Excel file? You can do it in three simple steps:
- Click the ellipsis in the upper right corner of the table
- Select "Export data" from the drop-down menu
- Select "Data with current layout” in the pop-up window
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VAIRRS University
VAIRRS added a new guide titled "IRBNetNotes-Subsequent_Packages_01.28.2025" to assist researchers and study coordinators with submitting a revised project package. You may be asked to submit a revised project package with updated information for your local committee's review (i.e., continuing review, modifications for approval, changes to the study team, etc.). This guide will help ensure a smooth submission as you maintain an organized set of project documents.
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You can also access the guide by going to VAIRRS University and navigating to the Researcher/Investigator/Study Team user role and selecting task area button 13.
To learn more about VAIRRS University, view the VAIRRS University walk-through webinar, led by VAIRRS experts.
For questions about VAIRRS University, contact the VAIRRS Support Team.
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Thank you to all VA research programs and staff who expressed interest in participating in the soft launch of the VAIRRS Best Practice Sandbox (BPS)! To our 39 BPS volunteers, the VAIRRS Support Team looks forward to receiving your best practice. Your participation will help shape the future of the VAIRRS program as we continue to enhance our services and support for all VA research sites. Stay tuned for updates regarding the launch of the BPS!
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VAIRRS End User Support Program
The VAIRRS End User Support Team provides administrative assistance to VA research programs to aid in the adoption of VAIRRS, increase compliance with related protocols and directives, and alleviate workload for site administrators. The support team works closely with VA research programs, for an average duration of six to nine months, and can assist with:
- PI registration
- Validation of project statuses
- Consolidation of duplicate projects
- Rectification of data discrepancies (yellow project status flags)
- Pre- or post-submission validation of VA Project Cover Sheets
- Translation of board actions from a site's local database to IRBNet
If your VA research program is interested in any of these offerings, please send an end user support request to begin the onboarding process.
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LEARNING CORNER
The VAIRRS Monthly Webinar Series Continues
February VAIRRS Webinar: IRBNet Track Training Tool Demonstration
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The February VAIRRS webinar will include a live demonstration of the IRBNet Track Training tool. The demonstration will review how to define training types, track training documents, and manage the training module for your committee. The VAIRRS Monthly Webinar Series offers the VA research community expert advice, training, demonstrations, and/or direction regarding various VAIRRS topics. |
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Wednesday, February 19, 2025
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (EST)
Angela Foster, Program Manager, ePROS; IRBNet Technical Support Team, WCG – IRBNet
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Please Note: The webinar is accessible to VA employees joining the MS Teams meeting from within the VA network.
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MARCH VAIRRS WEBINAR
We appreciate your continued commitment to excellence in VA research.
Thank you,
The VAIRRS Support Team
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