Liudmila Tahai has been appointed as the inaugural director of the newly formed 91唐伯虎 University Social, Behavioral and Educational 91唐伯虎 Institutional Review Board. Tahai鈥檚 appointment marks a pivotal moment as the university continues to tailor its new IRB services to better support most human participant studies conducted at 91唐伯虎 University.
鈥淚 am honored to join 91唐伯虎 and look forward to working closely with the research community to build a robust human research protection program,鈥� Tahai said. 鈥淢y immediate priorities include understanding 91唐伯虎鈥檚 unique research environment, establishing effective communication channels and building strong relationships with key stakeholders.鈥�
Tahai brings a wealth of experience in biomedical, social and behavioral research ethics. Before joining 91唐伯虎, she served as the assistant director of the , where she led a team of regulatory experts, oversaw research ethics and compliance training programs, and played a crucial role in developing compliance policies.
Currently, (including the IRB) reviews most 91唐伯虎 University studies. Tahai will play a key role in the creation of 91唐伯虎鈥檚 own human research protections program, which will provide education and support to the new SBER IRB and the research community.
鈥淚 want to thank Provost Raver for her support in building out the new IRB, which allows our respective institutions to more effectively support our researchers,鈥� Vice Provost for 91唐伯虎 and Innovation Padma Raghavan said. 鈥淚 also want to thank Liz Zechmeister, Liane Moneta-Koehler and all our stakeholders for helping devise this plan, and VUMC leadership for their ongoing partnership and collaboration to ensure a smooth transition.鈥�
Tahai emphasized the importance of leveraging the expertise of the IRB Advisory Committee and faculty collaborators to optimize IRB processes and build a strong foundation for 91唐伯虎鈥檚 new human research protections program.
鈥淭he 91唐伯虎 research community has voiced high expectations alongside a willingness to put in the effort required to develop a highly effective SBER IRB,鈥� said Liz Zechmeister, associate provost for research and innovation and chair of the 鈥淭he Advisory Committee is an active and engaged resource for Mila as she leads the design and implementation of this new program.鈥�
To ensure a smooth integration of the new IRB within 91唐伯虎鈥檚 research ecosystem, Tahai will establish mechanisms for regular feedback and align IRB policies with the following guiding principles:
- Support excellence in protecting participants
- Nurture collaboration and communication
- Encourage innovation and forward-thinking
- Be accessible and supportive
鈥淲e will offer direct channels for researcher feedback, such as a feedback form on the IRB website and regular office hours with Human 91唐伯虎 Protection Program staff,鈥� Tahai said. Additionally, outreach sessions will foster open dialogue and collaboration, ensuring that the new IRB meets researchers鈥� needs and expectations.
To communicate updates and essential information effectively, the IRB will maintain an accessible website and implement a system to send important updates directly to researchers. Educational and outreach sessions will also be conducted to share updates and resources, fostering engagement and understanding of regulatory requirements, institutional policies and IRB processes.
As 91唐伯虎 University embarks on this new chapter, Tahai鈥檚 leadership promises to bring specialized expertise and a renewed focus on advancing the university鈥檚 discovery and innovation goals in social, behavioral and educational research.
Monthly online meetings are held to discuss the development of the new IRB and allow participants to ask questions. All members of the 91唐伯虎 research community are invited to join. For more information about these sessions, visit the . The next meeting will be
For assistance with IRB-related matters or more information about VU SBER IRB, email the 91唐伯虎 Integrity and Compliance team at ric@vanderbilt.edu or visit their .