What projects does IRENE support? 

IRENE supports a wide variety of projects. We aren’t focused on one particular disease or intervention, which gives clinics and pharmacies opportunities to participate on projects that are relevant to their practice and/or communities.

What is expected of clinics and pharmacies that sign up for an IRENE-supported project? Examples of project activities include completing surveys, participating in focus groups, facilitating data collection, enrolling patients, delivering interventions, and/or joining advisory boards. 

Do clinics and pharmacies need their own institutional review board (IRB)? 

No, you aren’t required to have access to an IRB. When needed, the University of Iowa provides the necessary IRB infrastructure. How does compensation work? Pharmacies and clinics will receive payments depending on their level of project involvement. Typical payments per project range from $2,000 to $5,000 per year, plus salary support for project coordinators and site investigators. Patients enrolled in projects often receive incentives for completion of project activities. 

What is expected of patients and caregivers that sign up for an IRENE-supported project? 

There are generally two possible options for patients and caregivers: 1) Choose to enroll in a project if they meet eligibility requirements 2) Share their lived experiences as a paid consultant to give their perspective on project procedures, dissemination of results, and other aspects of the project.