If a group of affiliated institutions with separate FWAs (e.g., a university-hospital system) wants to participate in SMART IRB, can one member of the group join on behalf of all?

My institution is part of a group of affiliated institutions with separate FWAs (for example, a university-hospital system, or a hospital system) that wants to participate in SMART IRB. Can one member of the group join SMART IRB on behalf of all of us?

Each institution with a separate FWA must join SMART IRB (i.e., must be registered with SMART IRB and execute its own Joinder Agreement) in order to participate. In other words, institutions that have separate FWAs must each register and execute a Joinder Agreement to participate. This is required so that each FWA-holding institution that wishes to participate is identified and so that there is clear and simple documentation that each of them is directly agreeing to the terms of the Agreement.

Use this decision tree to help you determine how an affiliate of another institution may join and participate in SMART IRB.