You may have heard the term Sponsor-Investigator before, but just who are they and what do they do?  Just as the title suggests, a Sponsor-Investigator is someone who both initiates (sponsors) and conducts (investigator) an investigation.  This may sound simple, but in actuality, the role can be quite complicated.  However, like anything else, with proper preparation and support it can be accomplished.  Sponsor-Investigators are a rare breed of extremely intelligent, hardworking people who are on the cutting edge of scientific advancement in their respective fields.  They are so committed that they are willing to do essentially twice the work to bring new technologies and advancements to the medical community.

According to 21 CFR 812.110 an Investigator is responsible for conducting an investigation in accordance with the signed agreement with the sponsor, the investigational plan, this part and other applicable FDA regulations, and any conditions of approval imposed by an IRB or FDA.

During a recent monitoring visit, I came across a scenario that challenged my efforts to ensure compliance with the Institutional Review Board’s (IRB) policies.  For background, an East Coast University/Hospital has a new area of outsourcing for the studies that are being conducted at their institution. The local IRB reviews all Phase I/ II studies and all studies that are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Phase III and IV trials are outsourced to a central IRB.