IRB Requirements
Samples held in the Partners Biobank are available to Partners HealthCare investigators and their external affiliates, including academic and commercial affiliates, provided that the following criteria are met:
- In all cases, a review from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) is required. Please contact us for more information on the IRB review that is required in your case. We have created some step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process of applying for an IRB protocol and for submitting an amendment to your existing IRB protocol.
- In all cases, a Data Use Agreement (DUA) is required. Please contact us to receive the appropriate DUA template.
- Partners investigators who have a valid research collaboration with commercial/for-profit companies or non-Partners HealthCare academic institutions and wish to transfer samples to them should follow Partners HealthCare policies regarding the transfer of specimens outside of the Partners entity. This is typically achieved through the use of a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) in association with Partners Innovation if samples are to be sent to a commercial entity. Please review The Guideline, an "at a glance" reference chart, and the data sharing request submission form for more information.