Incident Reporting (AE/ORIO)
Federal regulations and university policy require investigators to report promptly to the IRB certain events, incidents, and/or information.
Incident Report Types
Adverse Event (AE)
AEs are events that involve physical, social, economic, or psychological harm to subjects; or indicate the possibility of harm to others. For research reviewed by the IRB-HSBS, an example of an AE would be a study involving questions or procedures that caused subjects to become upset to a degree unanticipated by the study team. The study team files an AE with the IRB to report the possible psychological harm to the subjects. Due to the unexpectedness of the subjects’ reaction, the IRB may determine this to be an “unanticipated problem.”
Other Reportable Information and Occurences (ORIO)
The University of Michigan uses the term “ORIO” to cover multiple types of events associated with a human subjects study, including:
- Accidents/incidents involving subjects, data/specimens, or U-M facilities
- Protocol deviations or violations, whether deliberate or accidental
- Complaints
- Lapses in IRB approval
- Audits, reports, or letters from federal oversight agencies
Most of the incidents reportable to the IRB-HSBS are ORIOs. An example of an ORIO would be a data breach as the result of a lost or stolen laptop, or system hacking. The study team files an ORIO with the IRB to report this event as “Accident/incidents involving subjects, data/specimens, or U-M facilities.” In an event where the study team deliberately or accidently breached confidentiality (e.g., mailed identifiable psychological or blood test results to the wrong participant), this would be reported as a protocol deviation.
Reporting Policies & Procedures
HRPP Operations Manual, Part 12, Section II
The IRB-HSBS follows the guidelines and timetables described under References & Resources below.
U-M’s IRB System
To log on to eResearch Regulatory Management System (eRRM): www.eresearch.umich.edu
For eRRM information, see the Regulatory Management website
For system instructions to enter an AE/ORIO report, see Resources below
Unanticipated Problems (UaP)
An “unanticipated problem” is an event, occurrence, incident, experience, information or outcome that is:
An “unanticipated problem” is an event, occurrence, incident, experience, information or outcome that is:
- Unexpected (by the participants or investigators in terms of nature, severity, or frequency) given:
- the research procedures that are described in the IRB-approved research protocol, informed consent document, and data and safety monitoring plans; and
- the characteristics of the subject population being studied (i.e., the traits, behaviors, symptoms, diseases, life experiences, etc. being studied); and
- Related or possibly related to participation in the research (possibly related means there is a reasonable possibility that the incident, experience, or outcome may have been caused by, or is linked in some significant way to the procedures involved in the research); and
- Suggests that the research places subjects or others at a greater risk of, or actual, harm (including physical, psychological, economic, or social harm) than was previously known or recognized.
The event must meet all three of the above criteria. Depending on the nature of the incident, the study team reports the UaP as an Adverse Event or ORIO for IRB determination. Per federal and institutional policies, the IRB reports unanticipated problems to the Office of the Vice President for Research, OHRP, and the sponsor (if necessary).
Adverse Event/ORIO Submission
Study teams can submit Adverse Event and ORIO reports online in U-M’s eResearch Regulatory Management (eRRM) system. The system steps to initiate the report are the same, but once you select the type of report (Adverse Event or ORIO), the system displays applicable information and options for that type of report. See Resources below for step-by-step system instructions. In general, researchers should wait until afer learning the IRB review outcome before making changes to the protocol in response to an AE or ORIO event. However, changes may be made at the time of the incident in order to protect human subject safety or to mitigate risk that could result from the AE or ORIO event. In such cases, the researcher should include this information in the AE or ORIO submission.
Roles & Responsibilities
Investigators and study teams are responsible for:
- Identifying unanticipated problems
- Analyzing the causes of these problems
- Filing an AE/ORIO report in eResearch to alert the applicable U-M IRB
- Responding appropriately to events and other problems involving risk to human subjects.
The IRB-HSBS reviews the report and may:
- Acknowledge the report, requiring no further action on the part of the study team
- Require changes to the protocol, procedures, or informed consent process in order to protect human subjects
- Request more frequent continuing review or status reporting for the project
- Suspend or terminate the research in cases (rare) of unacceptable risk to subjects
The IRB reports events that demonstrate serious or continuing non-compliance to the Office of the Vice President for Research, OHRP, and the sponsor (if necessary).
References and Resources
eResearch Regulatory Management (eRRM) system instructions to create and submit an adverse event or other reportable inforamation/occurence report for IRB review. Provided by ITS.
This information is for research overseen by IRB-HSBS. The information informs the PI and study team about the characterization of adverse events and the required reporting timetable for such events.
This information is for research overseen by IRB-HSBS. The information informs the PI and study team about the characterization of ORIO events and the required reporting timetable for such events.
Questions?
For questions regarding IRB continuing review requirements (e.g., policy, procedure, science), contact:
IRB Health Sciences and Behavioral Sciences
Phone: (734) 936-0933
Fax: (734) 936-1852
[email protected]
For help using eResearch Regulatory Management, contact:
ITS Service Center
(734) 764-HELP (764-4357)
[email protected]
online service request (login required)
Related Information
State of Michigan Mandatory Reporting
Requirements for reporting abuse and neglect with contact information; provided by the Michigan Department of Community Health.