Application for Cooperative Review

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has cooperative review agreements with a number of institutions in the Puget Sound area.  Cooperative agreements allow institutions to rely on each other's IRB review for multiple projects without a protocol specific authorization agreement.  In most cases this eliminates the need for duplicate review when research is conducted at multiple locations.  When FHCRC is relying on another IRB as the IRB of record, a cooperative IRB file must be submitted to the FHCRC IRB.  The cooperative IRB application process allows the FHCRC IRB to review what the other institution's IRB has done on our behalf.

The following institutions have cooperative agreements with FHCRC and generally will rely on FHCRC IRB as the IRB of record or FHCRC will rely on these institution's IRB as the IRB of record. 

• University of Washington
• Seattle Cancer Care Appliance (SCCA)
• Seattle Children's (will rely on FHCRC IRB for transplant and transplant related research)
• Group Health Cooperative
• Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason
• Washington State Department of Health 

FHCRC will rely on other institutions as well on a case by case basis.  For more information see IRB Authorization Agreements.

Submit ONE PAPER COPY of:

• New Cooperative Review IRB Authorization Agreement Cover Sheet 
• Initial approved application (with protocol/consents, if applicable), plus current approved renewal document(s), if study has been ongoing at the cooperative site.

Note: All New applications require sign-off by either the Associate Director or the Department Head. Please submit all cooperative applications directly to the Institutional Review Office.

Your application may be word processed, as long as the format is followed, or you may type the information into the form. You may also submit double-sided copies. These materials should be submitted along with, or prior to, submission of a grant application for Institutional Review sign-off of the grant.

Please contact the IRO if you have any questions regarding this paperwork. We are prepared to assist anyone who may need advice. Your cooperation in all of these matters is much appreciated and helps to process your materials more rapidly.

Once the Cooperative application receives final approval, the IRO will forward one copy of the approved documents to the Contact Person.

[instructions for continuation review of cooperative applications]