IRB e-Mail Bulletin: June 2, 2003

IRB Workshop
Appointment of Robert Hardesty, M.D.

Institutional Review Board Workshop
UPMC Conference Center - Room 1105AB
11th Floor Scaife Hall
Thursday, June 5, 2003
12:00 - 1:00 pm

The University of Pittsburgh presents "Ask the IRB". Bring your lunch and join Dr. Troen and staff for this informal workshop. This interactive session will provide updates of regulatory requirements as well as an opportunity to discuss any issues or problems related to research. For more information or advance questions, contact Patty Orndoff by calling 412-578-8569 or email orndoffpa@msx.upmc.edu. All are welcome to attend and no registration is required. Nurses and other health professionals are awarded Continuing Education Units (CEUs.)

TO: The University IRB Community

FROM: Randy P. Juhl, Ph.D.
             Vice Chancellor, Research Conduct and Compliance

             Dennis P. Swanson, M.S.
             Director, Research Conduct and Compliance Office

DATE: May 23, 2003

SUBJECT: Appointment of Dr. Robert Hardesty, M.D.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Hardesty, M.D. as Director of the University of Pittsburgh IRB Office, effective June 1, 2003. Dr. Hardesty has served as a Vice Chair of the University of Pittsburgh IRB since January 2001, and will continue to serve in this capacity. An accomplished clinical researcher and pioneering surgeon, Dr. Hardesty holds the title of Professor Emeritus in the Department of Surgery, School of Medicine.

Dennis Swanson, former Director of the University of Pittsburgh IRB Office, will continue to serve as the Director of the University of Pittsburgh Research Conduct and Compliance Office. In that role he will oversee the branching question/answer IRB electronic submission project in addition to his continuing duties. Mr. Swanson will also continue to chair the Human Use Subcommittee of the University of Pittsburgh Radiation Safety Committee and the University of Pittsburgh Radioactive Drug Research Committee.

The productivity gains of our faculty coupled with the increased scrutiny of federal regulatory bodies have produced a dramatic increase in the workload for the IRB Office staff and for the IRB members. We have responded to these pressures, while maintaining our commitment to the protection of research subjects, by implementing new IRB Office procedures and filing systems; adding additional IRB review committees; hiring additional IRB Office staff; and identifying additional IRB Office space. We are fortunate to be able to call upon someone of Dr. Hardesty's experience as we move forward with these operational improvements. We ask that you join us in congratulating and thanking Dr. Hardesty for assuming this important responsibility on behalf of the research community of the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC.

cc: Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg
       Senior Vice Chancellor Arthur S. Levine
       Provost James V. Maher
       Dr. Phillip Troen, IRB Chair
       Dr. Loren H. Roth, Associate Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior VP, UPMC