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Approved-By:  George Gasparis <gg2120@COLUMBIA.EDU>
Message-ID:  <4ABBDC17.8080807@columbia.edu>
Date:         Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:52:39 -0400
Reply-To: George Gasparis <gg2120@columbia.edu>
From: George Gasparis <gg2120@columbia.edu>
Subject: Initiation of "IRB Consultation Hours" in the CUMC IRB Office
To: cuhs-irb@CUMC.COLUMBIA.EDU
Precedence: list

Dear Colleagues:

The Columbia University Medical Center IRB Office is pleased to announce 
“IRB Consultation Hours”. This new service provides an opportunity for 
researchers to stop in at the IRB office and meet with an IRB 
professional to discuss regulatory, policy, and procedural questions. We 
have always welcomed questions and calls from researchers and this new 
service provides regularly scheduled hours as a means to increase such 
interactions.

On a pilot basis, the sessions are scheduled for Tuesdays, beginning 
Sept. 22, 1009, for 1.5 hours. No appointment is necessary. The IRB 
office is located on the 4^th floor of the Allan Rosenfield (Mailman 
School of Public Health) building, 722 W. 168^th Street. The 
consultation service will be held in the 4th floor conference room.

The number of staff members available for consultation will be dictated 
by the number of individuals who arrive to take advantage of this 
opportunity to have questions answered face-to-face. Attendees should 
sign in at the IRB receptionist desk, and will meet with IRB staff in 
the order of arrival. If situations warrant, individual consultations 
may be limited to 15 minutes.

The schedule for the remainder of 2009 is as follows:

Sept. 29th from 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Oct. 6th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Oct. 13th from 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Oct.20th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Oct.27th from 1:30 to 3:00 pm

Nov. 10th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Nov. 24th from 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Dec. 8th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Dec. 15th from 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Dec. 22nd from 10:00 am to 11:30 am

Researchers may also call in during these times, to the IRB main number, 
for consultation: 212.305.5883.

Evaluation of the consultation process, and response from investigators, 
will occur approximately midway through this schedule. At that point, a 
schedule for 2010 sessions will be developed, with any necessary 
procedural revisions incorporated.

We are excited about this new initiative as it will allow for efficient, 
personalized interaction with researchers on a more frequent basis.

We hope to see you soon!


Brenda Ruotolo
Associate Director, Columbia IRB


George Gasparis
Executive Director, Columbia IRB