History of WIRB
The Western Institutional Review Board (WIRB) was established in 1968 to
provide human subject protection for endocrinology research conducted by
Dr. Angela Bowen, the president of WIRB. The Board later reviewed a variety
of research for other investigators in the local community, and Dr. Bowen
incorporated WIRB in 1977.
With the introduction of the research regulations in 1981 came an increased need for independent IRB review services. In response, WIRB established the current for-profit structure, allowing an expanded clientele to be served throughout the local community and across the United States.
WIRB has developed over the years and added services to meet researcher and subject needs. Subjects are able to reach a live operator any time of the day, any day of the week; and a WIRB staff physician is always on call for inquiries from subjects or physicians regarding significant safety concerns or emergencies.
WIRB first offered institutional IRB services in 1996. With the changing
regulatory environment of the late nineties, WIRB extended its institutional
services to several large university IRBs and other local IRBs. WIRB provides
services to a growing number of institutions, while continuing to serve
independent researchers around the world.
The Applied Research Ethics National Association established the Council for Certification of IRB Professionals (CCIP) in 1999 to advance the quality of human subject protection programs through a voluntary certification program initiated in 2000. A WIRB staff member was part of the first group to be recognized by CCIP as a Certified IRB Professional (CIP), and more than 40 WIRB employees have since been certified.
In late 2001, WIRB implemented an electronic document storage system, to provide the Board and staff with easy access to IRB records. In early 2003, after several years of development, WIRB implemented a validated electronic workflow and database system, allowing the staff to provide a higher level of support to the Board.
WIRB strives to respond to the evolving needs of the global research community and has provided services internationally since 1986.
In response to Canada's revised research review requirements, WIRB established a panel to review research conducted in Canada. The Panel, whose standing membership is composed of Canadian nationals, held its first review meeting in October 2001.
Today WIRB provides review services for more than 100 institutions (academic centers, hospitals, networks and in-house biotech research), as well as for individual investigators in all 50 states and internationally. WIRB has worked with all major pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, and CROs; the biotech industry; and is actively developing Internet links for secure, fully-electronic submissions. With WIRB's preeminent position in the industry, we are able to provide a broad range of services with the flexibility to meet individual needs and in full regulatory compliance.
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