Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Institutional Review Boards

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the recordkeeping requirements for institutional review boards (IRBs).

DATES:

Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of information by May 17, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Submit electronic comments on the collection of information to: http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments . Submit written comments on the collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen L. Nelson, Office of Management Programs (HFA-250), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-1482.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document.

With respect to the following collection of information, FDA invites comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Institutional Review Boards—(21 CFR Part 56.115)—(OMB Control Number 0910-0130)—Extension

When reviewing clinical research studies regulated by FDA, IRBs are required to create and maintain records describing their operations, and make the records available for FDA inspection when requested. These records include the following: (1) Written procedures describing the structure and membership of the IRB and the methods that the IRB will use in performing its functions; (2) the research protocols, informed consent documents, progress reports, and reports of injuries to subjects submitted by investigators to the IRB; (3) minutes of meetings showing attendance, votes and decisions made by the IRB, the number of votes on each decision for, against, and abstaining, the basis for requiring changes in or disapproving research; records of continuing review activities; (4) copies of all correspondence between investigators and the IRB; (5) statement of significant new findings provided to subjects of the research; and (6) a list of IRB members by name, showing each member's earned degrees, representative capacity, and experience in sufficient detail to describe each member's contributions to the IRB's deliberations, and any employment relationship between each member and the IRB's institution. This information is used by FDA in conducting audit inspections of IRBs to determine whether IRBs and clinical investigators are providing adequate protections to human subjects participating in clinical research.

FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as follows:

The recordkeeping requirement burden is based on the following: The burden for each of the paragraphs under 21 CFR 56.115 has been considered as one estimated burden. FDA estimates that there are approximately 5,000 IRBs. The IRBs meet on an average of 14.6 times annually. The agency estimates that approximately 4.5 hours of person-time per meeting are required to transcribe and type the minutes of the meeting; to maintain records of continuing review activities; and to make copies of all correspondence between the IRB and investigative member records, and written IRB procedures that are approximately five pages per IRB.