The Western IRB (WIRB) AKA WCG IRB consulting service meets a unique and necessary resource for conducting human subject research that assures timely IRB reviews and compliance in order to meet the OVCR research mission. The WIRB has been providing rigorous and speedy regulatory compliant services to the Office of Protection for Research Subjects (OPRS). The ability to move forward with this vendor is imperative in order to prevent delays in continuation of currently approved therapeutic clinical trials which is a matter of safety for research subjects currently enrolled in WIRB approved research protocols.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for performing sponsored research and other sponsored activities under grants and contracts funded by the sponsor or by sources other than State appropriations. (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b)(8)) This vendor is extremely reliable and efficient in reviewing industry sponsored research projects. Recently, this vendor has acquired several independent IRB service firms, thus reducing competition for outsourced IRB consulting services. In addition, this vendor provides an excellent resource for the timely implementation of new research protocols especially those protocols designed to address therapeutic needs during the current COVID 19 pandemic. The UIC OPRS currently relies upon this vendor for greater than 50 ongoing research protocols.