Training and Quality Assurance

Melissa Fink, MA, CIP
Director
314-977-9814
melissa.fink@slu.edu
 
Maureen Bresnahan, CIP, CCRA
Coordinator
314-977-7734
maureen.bresnahan@slu.edu
 
Melissa Fitzgerald, MBA, CIP
Coordinator
314-977-7732
melissa.fitzgerald@slu.edu
 
Emily Harrison
Assistant Coordinator (External Review)
314-977-7741
emily.harrison@slu.edu
 
Danielle Hunter, MA
Coordinator
314-977-2029
danielle.hunter@slu.edu

Rachel Millinger
IRB Education/eIRB Systems Administrator
314-977-9813
rachel.millinger@slu.edu

Courtney Neal
Administrative Assistant
314-977-7744
courtney.neal@slu.edu

Kate Nichols, CIP
Coordinator 
314-977-7735
kate.nichols@slu.edu

The IRB maintains an education program that features routinely offered introductory sessions, periodically offered special topic sessions and customizable courses that can be brought into the classroom or research unit upon request.

Introductory Sessions: IRB 101 programming is offered online throughout the year. Courses include Submitter 101 (to support persons new to submitting to the IRB), eIRB 101 (for individuals who are new to using SLU’s eIRB protocol submission system), and Central IRB 101 (for those new to submitting clinical trials to partner Central IRBs).

Special Topic Sessions: The IRB offers “brown bag” and other sessions throughout the year on various topics related to conducting human subjects research. Examples include Obtaining Informed Consent, Post-IRB Approval Submission Requirements, Recruitment of Study Participants, and Research Involving Vulnerable Populations. Sessions may be in-person or hosted online and are communicated to the research community throughout the year.

Customizable Sessions: Research units or course instructors can request IRB sessions that are designed to meet their specific needs. The IRB has a 15-minute “Who We Are” introductory presentation and “IRB Boot Camp” session that we can provide as a base to build upon, or completely customized content can be developed to meet your needs. Contact the IRB at 314-977-9813 or irb@slu.edu to request a session.

The IRB maintains a QAR Program aimed at promoting high ethical and quality standards in human subjects research by providing monitoring and educational opportunities for researchers who conduct research involving human volunteers. See the QAR Program and FAQs for more information.

Investigator Reviews

The QAR team conducts quarterly routine investigator visits to assess whether research operations are being conducted in compliance with IRB-approved protocols, regulations and institutional policies. Review types vary in size and focus, and include things like consent process observation, consent documentation reviews, and study organization/documentation reviews. Investigators are selected randomly and once reviewed, are not eligible for routine re-selection for another two years.

Investigators who would like to request the QAR team visit their program can voluntarily request a visit by calling the IRB at 314-977-7744 or irb@slu.edu.

Investigator Self-Assessment Program

Principal investigators, research directors or study teams interested in assessing their research operations internally are welcome to use the QAR Investigator Self-Assessment Checklist. The tool can be used in whole, in part, or in combination with unit or sponsor specific elements to ensure that all requirements are being met in the conduct of the research.