An institution (or when appropriate an IRB) must prepare and maintain written procedures for conducting continuing review (45 CFR 46.103(b)(4)). The purpose of these written procedures is to ensure that IRBs have a framework for periodically reviewing the conduct of research by investigators. While a research project is ongoing, the IRB reviews and
considers proposed changes to the research as they are received, including protocol and consent form amendments. They also periodically receive and review reports of unanticipated problems involving risks to subjects or others (hereinafter referred to as “unanticipated problems”) and other information about the research. In general, IRB review of a proposed change to a research project or a report of unanticipated problems during the period for which approval is authorized does not constitute continuing review of the project as a whole. Although an IRB may become familiar with various individual aspects of the research project’s conduct, such familiarity does not relieve the IRB of the responsibility to conduct continuing review at least annually, which provides an opportunity to reassess the totality of the project and assure that, among other things, risks to subjects are being minimized and are still reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits, if any, to the subjects and the knowledge that is expected to result.