eFAQs

1. Why couldn’t I login with my JHED ID and JHED password?
   
   All users of eIRB must be assigned an eIRB account.  To set up an account in eIRB, Hopkins affiliated study team members select JHED User Self Registration and non Hopkins affiliated study team members select Non JHED User Self Registration from the eIRB login screen at http://e-irb.jhmi.edu.
   
   
   
2. I have an eIRB account, but I can’t login.  Should I create a new account?
   
   Do not create a new eIRB account.  Do you have a JHED ID?
   
   N  You are a Non Hopkins affiliated user (Non JHED user).  Contact the eIRB Help Desk at jhmeirb@jhmi.edu for assistance.
   
   Yes:  You are a Hopkins affiliated user (JHED user).  Contact information in eIRB is pulled from JHED.  Try to login to JHED at https://my.johnshopkins.edu/.  If you can’t successfully login to JHED, contact JHED directly at jhed@jhmi.edu or call the JHED IT Support Center at 410-955-HELP (4357) for assistance in resetting your JHED password.  If you can successfully login to JHED but not to eIRB and you have reset your JHED password, contact the eIRB Help Desk at jhmeirb@jhmi.edu.
   
   
   
3. I can’t remember my password.  What do I do?
   
   The IRB does not have access to your password. 
   
   Hopkins affiliated user:  to verify your JHED ID and reset your JHED password contact JHED directly at jhed@jhmi.edu or call the JHED IT Support Center at 410-955-HELP (4357). 
   
   Non Hopkins affiliated user: email the eIRB Help Desk at jhmeirb@jhmi.edu for assistance.
   
   
   
4. Why aren’t I receiving eIRB notifications?
   
   eIRB generates automatic emails at key points of the review process to notify users of new information or actions that need to be taken.  Contact information comes from JHED and your email address may not be exposed in your first affiliation in JHED.  For assistance in exposing your email in your first affiliation in JHED, contact JHED directly at JHED@jhmi.edu or call the JHED IT Support Center at 410-955-HELP (4357).  If your email is exposed in your first affiliation in JHED, email the eIRB Help Desk at jhmeirb@jhmi.edu for assistance.
   
   
   
5. I clicked Submit but it didn’t work.  All I got was some type of list.  What do I need to do to submit?
   
   The list you see in the Submit window is a list of errors in your application/FSA.  Each list item explains the error and provides a link to the screen where you can fix it.  This is the same list that appears when you click Hide/Show Errors on the Light Blue Toolbar at the top and bottom of the application/FSA screen.
   
   
   
6. Where do I find a link to the forms and regulatory guidelines?
   
   Click on the question mark icon   beside each question for a link to regulations, forms, etc.
   
   
   
7. Where do I find technologic help?
   
   Click on the information technology icon    beside each question for step by step technologic instructions.  Select “How Do I?” from the Left Navigation Bar on the eIRB Home Page at http://irb.jhmi.edu/eIRB/.
   
   
   
8. My study team members are not listed in eIRB.  How do I add them to the list?
   
   Not all faculty and staff are listed in eIRB.  To set up an account in eIRB, Hopkins affiliated study team members select JHED User Self Registration and non Hopkins affiliated study team members select Non JHED User Self Registration from the eIRB login screen at http://e-irb.jhmi.edu.  Once you complete the registration you will receive an email confirming that the account has been created.
   
   
   
9. The compliance training dates for some of my study team members are not displayed in eIRB.  How can I enter this information?
   
   There is an institutional requirement for compliance training which must be completed before IRB approval can be granted.  Guidelines for Compliance Training are available online at http://irb.jhmi.edu/Guidelines/training.html.  Do not to send compliance training certificates in advance of an eIRB submission.  Upload copies of training certificates into question 2.0 on the eIRB application screen Study Team Compliance Training, and we will enter the dates upon submission.  For assistance with the compliance training websites contact the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) at http://ictr.johnshopkins.edu/connection/.
   
   
   
10. What should I do if I have a problem with research training requirements?
    
    For assistance with compliance training requirements call the IRB at 410-955-3008.  The IRB does not monitor, maintain, or have access to the compliance training websites.  For assistance with the compliance training websites contact the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) at http://ictr.johnshopkins.edu/connection/.
    
    
    
11. My funding source is not listed.  How do I get it on the list?
    
    Just email the eIRB Help Desk at jhmeirb@jhmi.edu and we will add it to the list.
    
    
    
12. I got this email telling me to agree to participate in a research study.  How do I do that?
    
    Login to eIRB at http://e-irb.jhmi.edu.   Select “My IRB Studies” from the left navigation bar.  Click the Researcher Prep tab.  Scroll down select the study name to open the application or change in research workspace.  Select “Agree to Participate” from the Current Activities section on the left.  Read the window and click OK.
    
    
    
13. How can I make changes to an application that has already been submitted?
    
    Once an application has been submitted, it is in the In Process state and no changes can be made by the investigator.  You will see a read-only version when viewing your study.  If revisions are required, the study will be returned to the investigator and appear under the Action Required tab.  Changes can be made at that time.  You will need to re-submit the application after you have saved your changes.
    
    
    
14. How do I make changes to an application that has already been approved?
    
    You need to submit a Further Study Action (FSA) - Change in Research.  Open the application workspace for your approved study, and use the Create an FSA activity located on the left navigation bar.  FSAs look and function exactly like the application.  Once the Change in Research has been completed, the PI should click the Submit button the same way s/he submits the applications.  Information, instructions, and tutorials may be found on the eIRB Home page http://irb.jhmi.edu/eIRB/ by selecting "How do I?" from the left navigation bar.
    
    
    
15. Where and how do I submit FSAs?
    
    Open the application workspace for your approved study, and use the Create an FSA (Further Study Action) activity located on the left navigation bar.  FSAs look and function exactly like the application.  Once the FSA has been completed, the PI should click the Submit button the same way s/he submits the application.  Information, instructions, and tutorials may be found on the eIRB Home Page http://irb.jhmi.edu/eIRB/ by selecting "How do I?" from the left navigation bar. 
    
    
    
16. The PI of my study is changing.  What should I do?
    
    You will need a change in research to change the PI.  Either the old or the new PI will be able to submit the change.
    
    
     
17. Where do I upload the track changes version of my revised consent form?
    
    The IRB no longer requires a clean copy of the consent to be uploaded with the tracked changes copy.  To upload tracked changes copies of consent forms, select [Edit] beside the consent listed.  Only one version of each consent should be visible.  Upload tracked changes copies of consent forms when revisions are requested by the IRB or for changes in research.
    
    
    
18. Where do I find the stamped documents I can use with study participants?
    
    Once the application/FSA has been approved, select the Stamped Documents tab on the study workspace.  Right click the documents to download.  These documents will be listed in the approval letter.  Use these stamped documents with study participants.  The IRB will upload the same approved documents without a logo directly into the appropriate application question.  The no logo documents are to be used with changes in research.  Only one version of each document should be visible.  All documents that do not require an IRB stamp can be downloaded from the application question.
    
    
    
19. Where is the IRB letter?
    
    IRB letters may be found in the Review List on the application/FSA workspace.  Locate the "Letter Sent" heading in the Review List.  Select “View Letter” to open and review the IRB letter.
    
    
    
20. Where do I find the IRB tracked change version of the consent form to see the changes made by the IRB? 
    
    The IRB tracked change version of the consent form may be downloaded from the consent question in the application.
    
    
    
21. How do I respond to IRB Issues?
    
    Complete the IRB requested changes as listed in the IRB letter.  Select “Respond to Issues” from the Current Activities section of the application/FSA workspace.  Scroll down and enter a response to each IRB issue.  Click “OK” to save your response.  This does not submit the response.  Check the response complete box once a response has been entered for each issue, then click “OK” to save your response.  This will send an email reminding the PI to submit the response.
    
    
    
22. Where do I upload my response?
    
    The Response Document is no longer required.  Complete the Respond to Issues activity from the Current Activities section of the application/FSA workspace.  After clicking Submit, the Submit window allows the PI to include comments or documents only for information not covered in the application/FSA.  Never delete the IRB's letter from the text box.  Once deleted the letter cannot be retrieved.
    
    
    
23. Why can't I type into the Respond to Issues text box?
    
    

    Some browsers do not allow text entry into the Respond to Issues activity.  If you experience difficulties, use a workstation with Internet Explorer or switch to Firefox.
    
    

24. I completed the revisions and submitted my response.  Why isn’t anyone processing it?
    
    Are you sure that you’ve submitted the application/FSA?  Applications, Further Study Actions, revisions, or responses cannot be processed by the IRB until the Principal Investigator clicks the Submit link located under Current Activities on the left of the application/FSA workspace screen.
    
    
    
25. Where do I find the word version of the approved consent forms to submit a change in research?  
    
    The word version of the approved consent forms may be downloaded from the consent question in the application.  The stamped consentforms are located on the Application Workspace under the Stamped Documents tab.
    
    
    
26. I just submitted my continuing review.  Can I submit a change in research now?
    
    Continuing Reviews, Changes in Research, and Termination/Post Termination Reports may be submitted at the same time.  A second further study action of the same type for the same study may not be submitted until the first has completed its review.  Problem Events may be submitted concurrently, even for the same study.
    
    
    
27. I have an application that expired before I was able to submit my continuing review.  I am getting an error message when I try to do it.  Do I have to reapply under a new number?  I don’t want to interrupt the project for too long.
    
    The eIRB system will not allow us to extend expiration dates for continuing reviews.  As you may recall, one of the findings that the government used to shut down the IRB in 2001 was a practice of allowing investigators to extend research beyond the limit of the approval, even in situations that seemed beyond their control.  Ever since then, the policy has been in place to terminate any study that had not been submitted for a renewal prior to the expiration date.  There is a place in your new application where you select that this is a resubmission of a previously approved study and enter the original study number.
    
    
    
28. How can I get an extension to the time I have to resubmit my study?
    
    The PI has 60 days to resubmit an application that has been returned before going to an IRB Committee for review.  You may seek a 60 day extension of this time limit by selecting “Request Extension” under the Current Activities section of the application/FSA workspace.  You may also seek an extension for the submission of a response to IRB issues by selecting “Request Extension” under Current Activities on the application/FSA workspace.  Only the Principal Investigator may submit the request.  You must submit this request in eIRB before the original requested due date.  We cannot accept responses beyond the deadline without a JHM IRB approved extension. 
    
    
    
29. What is the procedure for withdrawing my study/response from IRB review?
    
    Only the Principal Investigator may withdraw an eIRB application or further study action.  Select PI Withdraw Study or Request Withdraw under Current Activities on the application/FSA workspace.  If you wish to pursue this application/FSA in the future, a new eIRB application/FSA must be created and resubmitted for IRB review. 
    
    
    
30. My study has finished accrual and we do not plan to continue it.  Do we need to do anything to officially close the study?
    
    A Termination Report should be submitted to the IRB when study activity is completed and access to study identifiers (if applicable) is no longer required for data analysis or manuscript writing. 
    
    
    

31. Where do I find a copy of the original application?
    
    Select the Further Study Action tab on the Application Workspace.  Scroll down to the bottom of the screen to locate a link to the original application.  Remember that only PI and study team members listed in the original application will be able to access it.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions
you may contact the JHM eIRB at: