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 Miguel Roig's (updated) list of IRB Forum Acronyms
Author: Jon Merz
Date:   01-02-07 13:47

ACRONYMS USED IN THE IRB FORUM

Compiled by Miguel Roig, Ph.D*
St. John’s University

*(and various other IRB Forum members who have contributed to the acronym list)


If it’s not on the list, try the acronym finder at http://www.acronymfinder.com/


AAHP – American Association of Health Plans, http://www.aahp.org/
AAHRPP – Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protections Programs,
http://www.aahrpp.org/index.html
AAMC – Association of American Medical Colleges, http://www.aamc.org/start.htm
AAPOR – American Association for Public Opinion Research, (statement for IRB)
http://www.aapor.org/default.asp?page=news_and_issues/aapor_statement_for_irb
AAPP – American Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians, http://aapp.org/
ABMS – American Board of Medical Specialties, http://www.abms.org/
ACC-NCDR – American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry,
http://www.accncdr.com/WebNCDR/Common/
ACCME – Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, http://www.accme.org/
ACCP – American College of Clinical Pharmacy, http://www.accp.com/
ACE – Affiliated Covered Entity (HIPPA)
ACGME – Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education,
http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/home/home.asp
ACHRE – Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments,
http://www.eh.doe.gov/ohre/roadmap/achre/
ACOSOG – American College of Surgeons Oncology Group, http://www.acosog.org/
ACR – American College of Radiology, http://www.acr.org/
ACRIN – American College of Radiology Imaging Network, http://www.acrin.org/
ACRP – Association of Clinical Research Professionals, http://www.acrpnet.org/
ACS – American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp
ACUC – Animal Care and Use Committee
AD - Alzheimer's Disease
ADAPT – Alzheimer's Disease Anti-Inflammatory Prevention Trial
ADE – Adverse Drug Event
ADR – Adverse Drug Reaction
AE – Adverse Event
AED – Automatic External Defibrillator
AHA – American Hearth Association, http://www.americanheart.org/
AHRP – Alliance for Human Research Protection, http://www.ahrp.org/
AHRQ – Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, http://www.ahcpr.gov/
AII – Agreement for an Independent Investigator,
http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/assurance/spa-aii.htm
AIO – Authorized Institutional Official
AMA – American Medical Association, http://www.ama-assn.org/
AOIR – Association of Internet Researchers, http://www.aoir.org/
APC – Adenoma Prevention with Celebrex (drug trial)
APPE – Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, http://www.indiana.edu/~appe/
ARDS – Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
ARDSNet - Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Network, http://www.ardsnet.org/
ARENA – Applied Research Ethics National Association, www.arena.org/
ARNP – Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner
ARO – Academic Research Organization
ASCO – American Society of Clinical Oncology, http://www.asco.org/ac/1,1003,_12-002138,00.asp?
ATTC – Addiction Technology Transfer Center, http://www.nattc.org/

BA – Business Associate
BAA – Business Associate Agreement
BCOP – Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist
BCP – Birth Control Pills
BMA – Board of Medical Examiners (State boards)
BN – Bachelor of Nursing
BNA – Bureau of National Affairs, http://www.bna.com/

C/A – Consent/Agreement
CA – Cooperative Amendment, http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/assurance/mpa-ca.rtf
CABG – Cardiac/Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
CAD – Coronary Atherothrombotic Disease
CALGB – Cancer and Leukemia Group B, http://www.calgb.org/
CAM – Complementary and Alternative Medicine
CAREB – Canadian Organization of Research Ethics Boards, http://www.careb-accer.ca/index.html
CB – Comitι de Bioιtica (Bioethics Committee)
CBER – Center for Biologics and Research, http://www.fda.gov/cber/
CCIP – Council for Certification of IRB Professionals, http://www.arena.org/certification.html
CCG – Children's Cooperative/Cancer Group (now COG), http://www.childrensoncologygroup.org/
CCOP – Childhood Cancer Ombudsman Program or Community Clinical Oncology Program,
http://www.childhoodbraintumor.org/ombuds.html
CCRC – Certified Clinical Research Coordinator
CCRP – The Center for Clinical Research Practice, http://www.ccrp.com/
CCRN – Childhood Cancer Research Network
CCSG – Children’s Cancer Study Group (now known as CCG)
CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov
CDER – Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (US - FDA), http://www.fda.gov/cder/
CDM – Clinical Data Management.
CDN – Clinical Directors Network, http://www.cdnetwork.org/
CDRH – Center for Devices and Radiological Health (US FDA), http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/
CE – Covered Entity. Also, Comitι de Etica (Spanish for: Ethics Committee; another name for IRB)
CEAR – Consultants for Evaluation and Applied Research, http://www.cmecear.com/sys-tmpl/door/
CECRE – The Consortium to Examine Clinical Research Ethics, http://cecre.duke.edu/
CEIC – Comitι Ιtico de Investigaciσn Clνnica (Another name for IRB, Spain),
http://www.madrid.org/web_ensayos_clinicos/
CEO – Chief Executive Officer
CER – Comite d'ethique de la recherchι (Another name for IRB, Canada),
CEU – Continuing Education Unit (nursing equivalent of CMEs for physicians)
http://www.ncehr-cnerh.org/francais/mstr_frmf.html
CFR – Code of Federal Regulations (see also CR or Common Rule),
http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm#46.101]
CHA – Canadian Health Association, http://www.cpha.ca/
CHA – California HealthCare Association, http://www.calhealth.org/
CHA – Catholic Health Association, http://www.chausa.org/ In Canada: http://www.chac.ca/
CHE – Committee on Human Experimentation (Another name for IRB, Canada)
CHR – Committee on Human Research (Another name for IRB)
CI – Clinical Investigator
CID – Comitι de Investigaciσn y Docencia (Another name for IRB, Argentina)
CIE – Comitι Institucional de Etica (Institutional Ethics Committee or Comitι Independiente de Etica:
Independent Ethics Committee) - (Other names in Spanish for IRB)
CIHR – Canadian Institute for Health Research, http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/index_e.shtml
CIM – Certified IRB Manager
CIOMS – Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences, http://www.cioms.ch/
CIP – Certified IRB Professional
CIRB – Commercial IRB; Central Institutional Review Board of NCI, http://www.ncicirb.org
CIRCARE – Citizens for Responsible Care and Research, http://www.circare.org/
CLD – Chronic Lung Disease
CLIA – Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act/Amendment
CMHS – Center for Mental Health Services/Community Mental Health Services,
http://www.mentalhealth.org/default.asp
CMS – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, http://cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/default.asp
CME – Continuing Medical Education
COC – Certificate of Confidentiality; Conflict of Commitment
COG – Cooperative Oncology Groups funded by NCI: See also CCG, COG, ECOG, GOG, RTOG,
POG, CALGB, and NABTC
COG – Children’s Oncology Group, http://www.childrensoncologygroup.org/
COGR – Council on Government Relations, http://www.cogr.edu/
COI – Conflict of Interest
COIC – Conflicts of Interest Committee
COMI – Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (California, US)
CONSORT - Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials, http://www.consort-statement.org/
CORIHS – Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (Another name for IRB)
CORP – NIH Council of Public Representatives, http://copr.nih.gov/Human_research_protections.shtm
COSA – Committee On Scientific Affairs
COX - Cyclooxygenase (COX, COX-1, COX-2) Inhibitors (e.g., Celebrex, Vioxx)
CPA – Cooperative Project Assurance, http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/assurance/cpa.htm
CPC – Clinical Protocol Coordinator
CPCS – Certified Provider Credentialing Specialist
CPG – Compliance Program Guide (FDA), http://www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/default.htm
CPHA – Canadian Public Health Association or CHA, http://www.cpha.ca/
CPHQ – Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality
CPHS – Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (Another name for IRB)
CPR – Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CPT – Current Procedural Technology code
CQI – Continuous Quality Improvement
CR – Common Rule, http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm#46.101]
CRA – Clinical Research Associate
CRC – Clinical Research Coordinator
CRF – Case Report Form
CRI – Clinical Research Investigator
CRM – Clinical Research Management
CRO – Clinical Research Organization/Contract Research Organization
CSF – Cerebrospinal Fluid
CSM – Committee on Safety of Medicines, UK,
http://www.mca.gov.uk/aboutagency/regframework/csm/csmhome.htm
CSP – Cooperative Studies Program
CSTE - Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, http://www.cste.org
CTA – Clinical Trials Agreement; Clinical Trials Application (Canada)
CTC – Common Terminology Criteria
CTCAE - Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0
CTEP – Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, http://ctep.cancer.gov/forms/CTCAEv3.pdf
CTO – Clinical Trials Office
CTR – Clinical Trial Registration
CTSU – Cancer Trials Support Unit, http://www.ctsu.org/
CV – Cardiovascular

DAIDS – Division of AIDS (see NIAID), http://www.niaid.nih.gov/daids/
DCD – Donation After Cardiac Death
DCO – Director of Clinical Trials
DDO – Due Diligence Officer
DEXA – Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry
DHEC – Department of Health and Environmental Control
DHEW – Department of Health, Education and Welfare (no longer exists)
DHHS – Department of Health and Human Services (replaced DHEW), http://www.hhs.gov/
DIA – Drug Information Association, http://www.diahome.org/docs/index.cfm
DIC – Data Informed Consent
DKA – Diabetic Ketoacidosis
DMC – Data Monitoring Committee
DOE – Department of Education (US), http://www.ed.gov/
DOD – Department of Defense (US)
DOH – Department of Health (see DHHS)
DRC – Departmental Review Committee
DRE – Digital Rectal Examination
DSHEA – Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (US legislation; FDA)
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/dshea.html
DSI – Division of Scientific Investigations (FDA), http://www.fda.gov/cder/Offices/DSI/
DSMB – Data Safety Monitoring Board
DSRB – Domain Specific Review Boards (Singapore)
DUA – Data Use Agreement
DVA – Department of Veterans Affairs
DVT – Deep Venous Thrombosis
DUA – Data Use Agreement

EBM – Evidence-based medicine
EDR – Existing Data/Document Review
EC – Ethics Committee (Another name for IRB)
ECMO – Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
ECOG – Eastern Co-operative Oncology Group, http://www.ecog.org/
ECRI – Emergency Care Research Institute, http://www.aahp.org/
EFGCP – European Forum for Good Clinical Practice, http://www.efgcp.org/
EGFR – Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
EMEA – European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products, http://www.emea.eu.int/
EMR – Electronic Medical Record
EMS – Emergency Medical Service
EP – Electrophysiology
EQUIC – Enhancing Quality of Informed Consent
ER – Emergency Room
EU – European Union – also – “End-User”

FAP – Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
FDA – Food and Drug Administration, http://www.fda.gov/
FDCA – Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/fdcact/fdctoc.htm
FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (aka the Buckley Amendment),
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/proprule/1999-2/060199e.html
FDLI – Food and Drug Law Institute, http://www.fdli.org/
FHPP – Facilities Human Protection Program
FI – Fiscal Intermediary
FOIA – Freedom of Information Act
FPCO – Family Policy Compliance Office, http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/index.html
FTE – Full-Time Employee
FWA – Federal Wide Assurance

GCP – Good Clinical Practice
GCRC – General Clinical Research Center
GDP – Good Documentation Practices
GeMCRIS – Genetic Modification Clinical Research Information System
GI – Gastrointestinal or Geographical Information
GME – Graduate Medical Education
GMP – Good Manufacturing Practice
GOG – Gynecologic Oncology Group, http://www.gog.org/
GPL – General Public License
GTSAB – Gene Transfer Safety Assessment Board

HAT – At Home Auto External Defibrillation study
HBCUs – Historically Black Colleges and Universities
HCFA – Health Care Financing Administration (US Health and Human Services Administration),
http://cms.hhs.gov/medicaid/default.asp
HCPCS – Healthcare Current Procedure Coding System
HDE – Humanitarian Device Exemption (what a HUD is classified as), see http://www.fda.gov/orphan/
HEC – Hospital Ethics Committee
HEC – Human Ethics Committee (IRB, New Zealand)
http://www.hrc.govt.nz/ethicgui.htm)
HEC – Health Ethics Committee (IRB, Australia), http://www.health.gov.au/nhmrc/ethics/ahec.htm
HEW – Health, Education, and Welfare (US Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare (
HEX – Human Experimentation Committee (Another name for IRB)
HIA – Humanity in Action, http://www.humanityinaction.org/
HIC – Health Information Center
HII – Health Improvement Institute, http://www.hii.org/
HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/
HIRB – Human Investigation Review Board (Another name for IRB)
HIT-6 - Headache Impact Test (HIT-6)
HMO – Health Maintenance Organization
HPA – Human Protections Administrator
HRC – Human Research Committee (Another name for IRB)
HREC – Human Research Ethics Committee (Another name for IRB, Australia)
HRP – Human Research Protections
HRPP – Human Research Protection Programs
HRRB – Human Research Review Board, (Another name for IRB)
HRRC – Human Research Review Committee, (Another name for IRB)
HRT – Hormone Replacement Therapy
HSR – Health Services Research/Human Subjects Research
HSP – Human Subjects Protection
HSPP – Human Subject Protection Program
HSRB – Human Subjects Review Board (Another name for IRB)
HTN – Hypertension
HUD – Humanitarian Use Device

IAA – IRB Authorization Agreement
IACUC – Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, http://www.iacuc.org/
IB – Investigator’s Brochure
IBC – Institutional Biosafety Committee or Institutional Biohazard Committee (needed in gene transfer
research, see http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/IBC/IBCindexpg.htm).
IBC – Inflammatory Breast Cancer
ICD – Informed Consent Document
ICD – International Classification of Diseases, http://www.who.int/whosis/icd10/
ICD registry – Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrilator
ICF – Individual Consent Form or Institutional Consent Form
ICH – International Conference on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for
Registration of Pharmaceuticals, http://www.ich.org/
ICH-GCP – International Conference on Harmonization – Good Clinical Practice,
http://www.ncehr-cnerh.org/english/gcp/
ICMJE – International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, http://www.icmje.org/
ICS – Informed Consent Statements/inhaled corticosteroids
ICU – Intensive Care Unit
IDB – Investigator's Drug Brochure
IDE – Investigational Device Exemption
IDSMB – Independent Data Safety Monitoring Boards
IEC – Institutional Ethics Committee/Independent Ethics Committee
IIA – Individual Investigator Agreement, http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/assurance/unaflsup.rtf

IIA – Interinstitutional Amendment, http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/assurance/mpa-iia.rtf
IIHI – Individually Identifiable Health Information (Regs.: 160.103)
IND – Investigational New Drug (application)
IO – Institutional Official
IOM – Institute of Medicine, http://www.iom.edu/
IPPC – International Pharmaceutical Privacy Consortium
IRB – Institutional Review Board (see other names for IRB)
IRC – Independent Review Consulting, http://www.irb-irc.com/index.html (Also, Investigational Review
Committee; Institutional Review Committee; Internal Review Committee)
IREB – Institutional Research Ethics Board (Another name for IRB)
IRRC – Institutional Research Review Committee/Individual Risk Reduction Counseling
IRSG – Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group
ISRCTN Register - International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number, http://isrctn.com/
IVUS – Intravascular Ultrasound

JCAHO – Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, http://www.jcaho.org/
JIT – Just in Time (procedure)
JUMBO – Joint Utilization of Medications to Block platelets Optimally

LAR – Legally Authorized Representative
LCME – Liaison Committee for Medical Education, http://www.lcme.org/
LDS – Limited Data Set
LEP – Limited English Proficiency
LOA – Leave of Absence
LTF – Long-Term Facilitation/Long-Term Fellowship, http://www.hfsp.org/how/faq_LTF.htm
LTF Subjects – Lost to Follow-up Subjects

MEC – Medical Executive Committee
MEDRA - Multilingual European DOI Registration Agency, http://reg.medra.org/en/index.htm
MHRA – The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, UK, http://www.mhra.gov.uk/
MHSA – Master of Health Services Administration (graduate degree)
MI – Myocardial Infarction (heart attack)
MOH – Medical Officer of Health
MOU – Memorandum of understanding
MPA – Multiple Project Assurance, http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/assurance/mpa.htm
MREC – Medical Research and Evaluation Committee (Another name for IRB)
MRSA – Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
MSA – Master of Science in Administration
MSM – Men who have Sex with Men
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
MSO – Medical Staff Office
MSPH – Master of Science in Public Health
MTA – Material Transfer Agreement
MUHC – McGill University Health Centre, http://www.muhcfoundation.com/

NABTC – North American Brain Tumor Consortium, http://www.nabtc.org/
NAIM – National Association of IRB Managers, http://www.naim.org/
NAIAD – National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, http://www.niaid.nih.gov/default.htm
NAIAD – Nerve Agent Immobilized Enzyme Alarm & Detector
NARAC – North American Rheumatoid Arthritis Consortium,
http://www.arthritis.org/research/research_program/Targeted_Initiatives/narac.asp
NBAC – National Bioethics Advisory Commission, http://www.bioethics.gov/
NCCN – National Comprehensive Cancer Network, http://www.nccn.org/
NCAM – National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, http://nccam.nih.gov/
NCCTG – North Central Cancer Treatment Group, http://ncctg.mayo.edu/
NCD – National Council on Disability, http://www.ncd.gov/
NCHICA – North Carolina Healthcare Information and Communications Alliance,
http://www.nchica.org/
NCI – National Cancer Institute, http://www.nci.nih.gov/
NCIC CTG – National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trial Group,
http://www.ncic.cancer.ca/progs/ctge.htm
NCPHSBBR – National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and
Behavioral Research
NCQA – National Committee for Quality Assurance (currently responsible for accreditation of VA
research programs), http://www.ncqa.org/
NCRR – National Center for Research Resources, a component of NIH, http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/
NDA – New Drug Application
NDC – National Coverage Determination (Medicare) http://www.cms.hhs.gov/coverage/8d2.asp
NEJM – New England Journal of Medicine
NHSR – Not Human Subject Research
NHRPAC – National Human Research Protections Advisory Committee,
http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/nhrpac/nhrpac.htm
NIA – Nonaffiliated Investigator Agreement/Noninstitutional Investigator Agreement,
http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/assurance/cpa-nia.rtf
NIAID – National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, http://www.niaid.nih.gov/default.htm
NICE – National Institute for National Excellence, http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=home
NICU – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NIDPOE Letters – Notice of Initiation of Disqualification Proceedings and Opportunity to Explain,
http://www.fda.gov/foi/nidpoe/default.html
NIH – National Institutes of Health, http://www.nih.gov/
NLST – National Lung Screening Trial, http://www.nci.nih.gov/NLST
NME – New Molecular Entities (FDA, New Drug Approval Reports)
NOK – Next of Kin
NOPR – National Oncologic PET Registry,
http://interactive.snm.org/index.cfm?PageID=4611&RPID=10
NPP – Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPPA related)
NPWC – National Placebo Working Committee (Canada)
NSABP – National Surgical Adjuvant Breast & Bowel Project, http://www.nsabp.pitt.edu/
NSAID – Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drug
NSR – Non significant Risk
NRMI – National Registry of Myocardial Infarction, http://www.nrmi.org/
NWTSG – National Wilms' Tumor Study Group, http://www.nwtsg.org/

OA – Osteoarthritis
OBA – Office of Biotechnology Activities, http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/
OB-GYN – Obstetrics-Gynecology
OCR – Office of Civil Liberties/Civil Rights, http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/lep/
OG – Oncology Group
OHCA – Organized Health Care Arrangement (HIPPA)
OHRO – Office of Human Research Oversight (VHA)
OHRP – Office of Human Research Protections (formerly OPRR),
http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/index.html
OLAW – Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (NIH), http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/olaw/
OLES – Open Label Extension Studies
OMB – Office of Management and Budget, http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
OPRR – Office for Protection from Research Risks, http://ohsr.od.nih.gov/whatohrp.php3
OPT – Office of Pediatric Therapeutics, http://www.fda.gov/oc/opt/default.htm
OR – Operating Room
ORA – Office of Regulatory Affairs/Office of Research Administration, http://www.fda.gov/ora/
ORCA – Office of Research Compliance & Assurance (Veterans Health Administration),
http://www.va.gov/orca/
ORD – Office of Research and Development (VA), http://www.va.gov/resdev/
ORI – Office of Research Integrity, http://ori.dhhs.gov/
OS/ - Office of the Secretary (there are several. See http://www.hhs.gov/ofta/triballiaisons.html)
OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration, http://www.osha.gov/
OT – Occupational Therapists
OTC – Over The Counter (medications that do not require a physician’s prescription)

PA-C – Physician Assistant - Certified
PAC – Pediatric Advisory Committee, http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/oc04.html#pediatric
PACTG – Pediatric Aids Clinical Trials Group
PAD Trial – The Public Access Defibrillation trial, http://depts.washington.edu/padctc/
PB – Privacy Board
PCI – Prostate Cancer Initiative, http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_5x.asp?dt=36
PCP – Primary Care Physician
PCR – Polymerase Chain Reaction (technique to replicate fragment of DNA for genetic analysis)
PCT – Placebo Control Trials
PCRCT – Placebo Control Randomized Clinical Trial
PD – Program Director
PDR – Physician’s Desk Reference
PDUFA – Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 1992
PedCIRB – Pediatric Central Institutional Review Board (NCI)
PFO – Patent Foramen Ovale
PhRMA – Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, http://www.phrma.org/
PHI – Private Healthcare Information/Public Health Information/Protected Health Information
(See Regs.:164.501 for Protected Health Information).
PHRP – Partnership for Human Research Protection, http://www.phrp.org/
PHS – Public Health Service (see also USPHS – United States Public Health Service),
http://www.hhs.gov/phs/
PI – Principal Investigator -- Process Improvement
PIC – Peripheral Intravenous Catheter
P&P – Policies and Procedures
PM – Project Manager
PMA – Pre-Market Approval
PMD – Private Medical Doctor
PMOA – Primary Mode of Action (FDA)
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2004/ANS01288.html
PMA – Pre Market Approval
POA – Power of Attorney
POG – Pediatric Oncology Group (merged with CCG, now COG),
http://www.childrensoncologygroup.org/
PPRA – Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment,
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_00/34cfr98_00.html
PreSAP – Prevention of Spontaneous Adenomatous Polyps
PRIDE – Program for Research Integrity, Development and Education (VHA)
PRIM&R – Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research, http://www.primr.org
PRS – Performance Review Standards/Protocol Review Subcommittee
PSA – Prostate-specific antigen
PSUR – Periodic Safety Updates Report
PT – Patient; Physical Therapists
PTC – Professional Testing Corporation, http://www.ptcny.com/
PTE – Part-Time Employment
PUI – Primarily Undergraduate Institution
PVS – Persistent Vegetative State

QA – Quality Assurance
QAHRN – Quality Assurance in Human Research Network (Canada)
QC – Quality Control
QI – Quality Improvement
QIC – Quality Improvement Committee
QIP – Quality Improvement Program
QOL – Quality of Life
QV – QV modifier (item provided as routine care in medical trial and covered by Medicare)

RA – Research Assistant, rheumatoid arthritis
RAC – Recombinant-DNA Advisory Committee
RAPS – Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society, http://www.raps.org/
RCO – Regulatory Compliance Officer
RCR – Responsible Conduct of Research
RCT – Randomized Control Trial
REB – Research Ethics Board (Another name for IRB - Canada),
http://www.ncehr-cnerh.org/english/mstr_frm.html
RERB – Research Ethics Review Board, (Another name for IRB)
REC – Research Ethics Committee (Another name for IRB - UK), http://www.corec.org.uk/
RFP – Request for Proposal
RIA – Research Integrity Officer
R&D – Research And Development
ROC - Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium, https://roc.uwctc.org/tiki/tiki-index.php or
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/mar2006/nhlbiv1-24.htm
ROI – Report of Investigation
R PH – Registered Pharmacist
RR – Relative Risk
RSA – Research Subject Advocate or Rehabilitation Services Administration
RSC – Radiation Safety Committee
RSV – Respiratory Syncytial Virus
RTOG – Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, http://www.rtog.org/

SACHRP – http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/sachrp/sachrp.htm
SAE – Serious Adverse Events
SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, www.samhsa.org
SAP – Suspect Adverse Reaction
SBES – School of Biomedical Engineering and Science
SBIR – Small Business Innovative Research
SBS – Social & Behavioral Science
SC – Study Coordinator
SCID – Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease
SEER – Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results, http://seer.cancer.gov/
SIDCER – Strategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in Ethical Review, http://www.sidcer.net/
SMO – Site Management Organization
SOCRA – Society of Clinical Research Associates, http://www.socra.org/
SOP – Standard Operating Procedure
SPA – Single Project Assurance, http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/assurance/spa.htm
SR – Safety Report/Significant Risk
SRO – Sponsored Research Office
SRS – Social Rehabilitation Services Administration, http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/about.html
SSA – Social Security Administration, http://www.ssa.gov/
SSN – Social Security Number
STD – Sexually Transmitted Diseases
SWOG –South West Oncology Group, http://www.swogstat.org/

TCM – Traditional Chinese Medicine
TCPS – Tri-Council Policy Statement (Canada), http://www.nserc.ca/programs/ethics/english/policy.htm
TCD – Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound
TEE – Transesophageal Echocardiography
TGA – Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia; equivalent to US’ FDA), http://www.tga.gov.au/
TPO – Third Party Only

UIA – Unaffiliated Investigator Agreement (for a sample of an UIA go to:
http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/assurance/fwas.htm
UPIRSO – Unanticipated Problems Involving Risks to Subjects or Others
URI – Upper Respiratory Infection
USDA – United States Department of Agriculture, http://www.usda.gov/
USPHS – United States Public Health Service, http://www.hhs.gov/phs/

VA – Veterans’ Administration; Veterans’ Affairs, http://www.va.gov/
VAMC – Veterans Administration Medical Center
VETPRO - software designed to automate physician credentialing process,
http://www.quic.gov/workforce/Enhance/finalrpt.htm
VP – Vice President --- VPR – Vice President for Research
VR – Vocational Rehabilitation
VHA – Veterans Health Administration

WIRB – Western Institutional Review Board, http://www.wirb.com/
WHI – Women’s Health Initiative, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/whi/
WHO – World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/en/
WMA – World Medical Association, http://www.wma.net/e/

-----------

Common acronyms used in e-mail communications:

AKA – Also known as
ASAP – As soon as possible
BTW – By the way
CYA – Cover your ass
FWIW – For what is worth
FYI – For Your Information
IANAL – I am not a lawyer
IMHO – In my humble opinion
OTOH – On the other hand
POV – Point of View

Other common e-mail acronyms may be found at:
http://www4.semo.edu/adminserv/E-mail%20acronyms.htm
http://www.mcfedries.com/ramblings/email-jargon.asp
http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/reference/abbrev.htm


Other lists of IRB- or research-related acronyms:
http://www.research.umich.edu/aids/acronyms_glossary/nonUM_acronyms_glossary.html#general
http://www.cwru.edu/med/epidbio/mphp439/Acronyms.htm
http://www.northwestern.edu/orsp/acronyms.html
http://www.kelty.org/or/thesis/appendices/references/acronyms.html
http://www.gwvi.ncr.gov/acrnyms.html
http://www.hipaadvisory.com/action/faqs/glossary.htm (HIPAA acronyms)
http://peer1.nasaprs.com/peer_review/taskbook/life_science/ls98/ltb_acron.html
http://felcom.nih.gov/Infobank/Survival/acronyms.html
http://www.albmolecular.com/features/tekreps/vol03/no02/

Glossary of medical terms
http://www.partnersforimmunization.org/pdf/Glossary_Acronyms.pdf


GOK – God Only Knows (Expression often used when trying to interpret federal regulations) J


BELMONT REPORT: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/belmont.htm
COMMON RULE: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm
HELSINKI DECLARATION: http://www.wma.net/e/policy/b3.htm

Legal and related IRB expressions
Qui tam – “Is a provision of the Federal Civil False Claims Act that allows private citizens to file a lawsuit in the name of the U.S. Government charging fraud by government contractors and others who receive or use government funds, and share in any money recovered”. Taken from http://www.quitam.com/quitam1.html

Papers on the age-old question: Is it research?

Hodge, J. G. and Gostin, L. O. (2004). Public Health Practice vs. Research: A Report for Public Health
Practitioners Including Cases and Guidance for Making Distinctions. Council of State and
Territorial Epidemiologists, Atlanta, GA.
http://www.cste.org/pdffiles/newpdffiles/CSTEPHResRptHodgeFinal.5.24.04.pdf


Web sites of interest:
Protecting Personal Health Information in Research: Understanding the HIPAA Privacy Rule, http://privacyruleandresearch.nih.gov/pr_02.asp
Clinlaw: http://www.clinlaw.com/libraries/fooddrug/claw/index.html. Database of federal and state clinical trial requirements.

Doing ethnographic research: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/anthro/CPIA/methods.html

Web site for whistle blowers: http://www.nationalquitamlawyers.com/

White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy
http://www.whccamp.hhs.gov/finalreport.html

National Placebo Working Committee on the Appropriate Use of Placebos in Clinical Trials in Canada (July 2004), http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/25139.html

Distinguishing between drubs and cosmetics: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-218.html

 Topics Author  Date
 Miguel Roig's (updated) list of IRB Forum Acronyms new 
Jon Merz   01-02-07 13:47 


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