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The VUMC HIPAA Authorization language has been updated. All new studies submitted after 10/1/2025 are required to utilize the new language. Both the standalone VUMC HIPAA Authorization Form and the Informed Consent templates posted on the HRPP website have been updated to include the new language. Studies submitted prior to this date are not required to use the updated HIPAA Authorization language/revised standalone HIPAA Authorization Form.

The VUMC HRPP/IRB is excited to announce that our new Short Form Translation Library (Short Form Consent | Human Research Protections Program) is now available for researchers! The library includes short forms translated into multiple languages. Effective Sept. 5, 2025, the VUMC IRB approved a policy change allowing the IRB to grant overall approval of a standard short form document. This change is intended to streamline the procedure and relieve administrative burden. Once the IRB approves a short form consent process for a study, the standard VUMC short forms, available on this Translation Library website, may be used. The IRB will not approve/stamp the standard short form(s) on a study-by-study basis.  Guidance about this change and how it impacts new and ongoing studies can be found on the Translation Library webpage. 

NEW e-Consent guidance Page/Process: VUMC HRPP has launched a new e-Consent webpage outlining its revised e-Consent guidance, effective for all new e-Consent processes initiated after August 15, 2025. The revised guidance introduces the minimum elements of the e-Consent process that are required to be described in the IRB application. The IRB will review and approve the e-Consent process detailed in the Application, ensuring compliance with the federal requirements. Please note, the IRB no longer requires copies of e-Consent documents be submitted for review. It remains the Investigators' responsibility to ensure that the content of the electronic consent form exactly matches the IRB-approved written consent form and that any modifications to the consent forms are submitted to the IRB for review and approval prior to implementation. For more details, please refer to https://www.vumc.org/irb/electronic-consent