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Research Overview

Research is an integral part of Vail Health's mission to elevate health across our mountain communities. Our goal is to offer specialized care supported by comprehensive research and education. Many of our physicians and staff have pursued in-depth research and written articles that have been published in the world's top medical journals. Howard Head Sports Medicine develops extensive therapy protocols for rehabilitation, setting new standards for research and innovation in the physical therapy field worldwide. Shaw Cancer Center has opportunities for patients to participate in clinical trials which allow patients access to new methods of treating cancer. In addition, the research and experience of our partners at the Steadman Philippon Research Institute have led to significant advances in the fields of orthopaedics and sports medicine.
AAHRPP Accreditation
The Vail Health IRB protects the rights, safety, and welfare of human subjects through the initial review, approval, and continuing oversight of human subjects research that is conducted by or under the auspices of Vail Health.  Specifically, the IRB ensures that research involving human participants is conducted following the ethical principles outlined in the Belmont Report (written by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research), as well as the regulations set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration. The Vail Health IRB Committee meets monthly to review research protocols involving human subjects and evaluates both the risks to and protection of those subjects. 

AAHRPP promotes high-quality, ethically sound research through an accreditation process that helps organizations worldwide strengthen their human research protection programs (HRPPs). An independent, non-profit accrediting body, AAHRPP uses a voluntary, peer-driven, educational model to ensure that HRPPs meet rigorous standards for quality and protection. To earn accreditation, organizations must provide tangible evidence-through policies, procedures, and practices—of their commitment to scientifically and ethically sound research and to continuous improvement. As the "gold seal," AAHRPP accreditation offers assurances—to research participants, researchers, sponsors, government regulators, and the general public—that an HRPP is focused first and foremost on excellence.

Research Participant Resources

  • Research Participation Brochure: English | Spanish
  • Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) Videos: The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) videos provide basic information on research participation.
  • NIH.GOV contains many useful resources, including information on clinical trials taking place in the United States, and all over the world.
  • CISCRP (Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation) is a non-profit organization to inform stakeholders about clinical research and the role of each stakeholder.
  • CenterWatch provides information on clinical trials for research participants and professional researchers.
  • ClinicalTrials.GOV is a searchable database of active research studies.
 

Research Complaints or Concerns

If you have a general question, concern, or complaint, you should first contact the research team, and specifically, the principal investigator whose name and phone number is listed on the consent form. However, if you have a complaint or concern that you feel should be reported and investigated, please contact:

Vail Health Institutional Review Board (IRB) Office
(970) 479-5137 | irboffice@vailhealth.org

Clinical Trials

Shaw Cancer Center has opportunities for patients to participate in clinical trials which allow patients access to new methods of treating cancer. 

Submission Information

  1. Investigator Manual (.pdf)
  2. Consent Templates
  3. Study Resources
    1. Adverse Event Log
    2. Delegation of Responsibilities Log
    3. Protocol Deviation Log
    4. ICF Process Checklist
  4. Link to IRB Manager
  5. Full Board Meeting Dates:
    • January 5, 2023
    • February 9, 2023
    • March 16, 2023
    • April 13, 2023
    • May 11, 2023
    • June 8, 2023
    • July 13, 2023
    • August 10, 2023
    • September 7, 2023
    • October 12, 2023
    • November 16, 2023
    • December 14, 2023
  6. Vail Health HRPP Policy and Procedures
  7. Training Videos

IRB Staff & Contact Information:

  • Office Hours: Please contact the IRB office to set-up a time for a consultation at IRBOffice@vailhealth.org.
  • Newsletters: 
  • Coordinator Meeting Dates: These meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month. Please contact IRBOffice@vailhealth.org to be added to the email list to attend these meetings
    • January 12, 2023
    • February 9, 2023
    • March 9, 2023
    • April 13, 2023
    • May 11, 2023
    • June 8, 2023
    • July 13, 2023
    • August 10, 2023
    • September 14, 2023
    • October 12, 2023
    • November 9, 2023
    • December 14, 2023