The Department of Medicine (DOM) is transitioning scientific and quality review responsibilities from the centralized DOM Scientific Review Committee (SRC) to individual divisions.
Each division must identify faculty and/or staff Protocol Oversight Review Form (PORF) signatories, document its review workflow, and have a division-level review process operational by August 20, 2026.
What Is Changing?
Effective August 10, 2026, at the close of business, the Department of Medicine Scientific Review Committee (SRC) will discontinue operations and will no longer accept protocol submissions for review. Beginning August 20, 2026, each division will be responsible for conducting scientific and quality reviews of research protocols before submission to the UAB Human Research Protection Program (HRPP)/Institutional Review Board (IRB). This transition aligns with Heersink School of Medicine requirements.
Why Is This Changing?
Heersink has established a new scientific and quality review process to strengthen protocol quality before IRB submission. Moving the scientific and quality review into the divisions allows for reviews to be conducted by subject-matter experts closer to the science, earlier identification of issues, promotes divisional input and ownership of protocol quality, and aligns DOM practices with institutional requirements.
What Is Needed from Divisions?
- Establish a scientific and quality review process.
- Identify authorized PORF signatories.
- Ensure PORF signatories complete the required HRPP training.
- Develop a written division workflow. Division workflow plans should identify who will conduct reviews, who will serve as authorized PORF signatories, how reviews will be documented, expected turnaround times, and how investigators will submit protocols for division review.
PORF Signatory Training
Access the Preparing Signatories for Scientific and Quality Review course. Select Login with BlazerID
Understanding the Attached Resources
- Heersink IRB Submission Process Document: Institutional requirements and framework.
- Protocol Oversight Review Form (PORF): Required review documentation. DOM will use division-level review effective August 20, 2026.
- PORF Signatory Reference Document: Responsibilities, approvals, and training requirements.
- DOM IRB Pre-Review Checklist: Tool to support scientific and quality review.
- Sample Division Review Workflow: Example process template.
Questions and Support
Office hours will be offered for Division Directors, research administrators, and designated reviewers for those interested. Contact Cynthia Joiner at cirwin@uabmc.edu with questions.