The Chickasaw Nation's Tribal Institutional Review Board Establishment and Enhancement (TIRBEE) Application

The Chickasaw Nation (CN) established the Chickasaw Nation Research Review Board (CN RRB) through an executive order by Governor Bill Anoatubby in 1998. In 2004, the CN RRB became registered as the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health Institutional Review Board (CNDH IRB). Since this time the CNDH IRB has been fully operational but has not yet received designated financial support from CNDH. The CNDH is currently in a partnership with the Indian Health Service's (IHS) joint venture program to expand health services into the northwest area of the Chickasaw Nation's treaty territory. There are future plans to expand the Division of Research and Public Health (DRPH), which currently manages the CNDH IRB, at the new health care campus. This funding will help to enhance the operations of the existing CNDH IRB and aid in health care expansion, which is predicted to bring in more research partnerships and opportunities. The CNDH will assess their existing systems and processes, identify opportunities to streamline current operations and increase the timeliness of IRB decisions. CNDH IRB staff and members have had limited training opportunities due to lack of funding. The creation of a workforce development plan and access to training or conferences will increase staff knowledge, thereby increasing timeliness and accuracy of IRB decisions. Since the health care expansion is projected to increase research opportunities, the CNDH IRB staff plans to develop a sustainability plan that could cover expenses associated with IRB operations, including designated staff salary allocations, obtaining/maintaining IRB software, obtaining/maintaining CITI training accounts, attending IRB related conferences, etc. Researching and piloting an IRB revenue model could help ensure the sustainability of the CNDH IRB after the conclusion of the grant award, and a Tribal IRB Manual will allow the CNDH IRB to assist other First American tribes in the development of their IRBs. The CN proposes the following Specific Aims (SA): SA1. Assessment and Implementation. Using the OHRP Quality Assurance Self-Assessment tool, conduct an assessment of the CNDH IRB operational processes. Based upon the results of the assessment, develop a plan to address any areas in need of improvement and analyze using the Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) method. SA2. Effectiveness. Determine the impact of a workforce development plan. SA3. Feasibility. Identify and pilot a fee structure revenue model that could support the sustainability of the CNDH IRB. SA4: Development and Dissemination: Create a Tribal IRB Manual to assist and mentor other First American tribes. Project Number: 1R24GM162196-01 | Fiscal Year: 2026 | NIH Institute/Center: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) | Principal Investigator: Bobby Saunkeah | Institution: CHICKASAW NATION, ADA, OK | Award Amount: $430,408 | Activity Code: R24 | Study Section: Special Emphasis Panel[ZRG1 CDB-H (55)] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11267471