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A PRIM&R Course
Institutional Review Board Administrator Core Training Course 1: Key Administrative Skills
Tuesdays | July 8, 15, and 22, 2025
1:00–3:00 PM ET
Learning Labs | Thursdays | July 10 & 17
Agenda
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Presenters
Nichelle Cobb, PhD, CIP
Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives, Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (AAHRPP)
Nichelle Cobb, PhD, is the Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives for the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) and was previously a site visitor for AAHRPP and member of AAHRPP’s Council on Accreditation. Prior to joining AAHRPP, she served as the Human Subjects Protection Officer for the Institute for Clinical & Translational Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was the Director of the Health Sciences Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) for 16 years. Nichelle has been involved in single IRB work for more than a decade and currently serves as a Senior Advisor for SMART IRB, a federally funded project that supports the implementation of single IRB. In addition, Nichelle is a member of the SMART IRB Harmonization Steering Committee and has co-led working groups to harmonize IRB and Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) practices, such as reportable events, ancillary reviews, local context, and continuing review. Nichelle served on this year's human subjects research planning committee for PRIM&R Annual Conference and co-teaches courses for PRIM&R, including Exploring the Common Rule and IRB Administrator Core Training. She has written articles on the IRB process, single IRB, and eConsent
Nancy Olson, JD
IRB Analyst, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Nancy A. Olson, JD, is an IRB Analyst at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She has more than 20 years of experience working with Institutional Review Boards, including as the former Director of the Human Research Office at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and consulting in the field of human research protections. Nancy serves as a faculty member for PRIM&R's IRB Administrator and At Your Doorstep programs, and as a speaker at regional and national meetings, including PRIM&R and AAHRPP. She also contributed to the Third Edition of Institutional Review Board Management and Function. Nancy was a member of the SACHRP Subpart A Subcommittee, a consultant to the Office for Human Research Protections, a past Co-Chair of PRIM&R's Advancing Ethical Research Conference Poster Abstract SubCommittee, a PRIM&R Board Member, and ARENA president.
Jessica Ripton, MPH, CIP
Director of Clinical Research Compliance at Boston Children’s Hospital
Jessica “Jesse” Ripton is the Director of Clinical Research Compliance at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she oversees the operations of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) office and the Single IRB program. She brings extensive experience in research compliance and human subject protections to her role.
Before joining Boston Children’s, Jesse served as the Director of the IRB at Mass General Brigham and at Beth Israel Lahey Health. She also held a leadership position in Research Compliance at The Fenway Institute, Fenway Community Health, where she managed the IRB, led the development of a research training curriculum focused on human subject protection, and supported study teams through quality assurance monitoring.Jesse is an active presenter and educator on IRB-related topics and regularly provides training for IRB professionals. She holds a BA from Bates College and a Master of Public Health from Boston University.
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Carissa Minder, BSN, RN, MS, CIP
Associate Director of the Human Research Protection Office, Washington University, St. Louis
Carissa Minder brings over 20 years of experience in clinical research, with the past 14 years dedicated to advancing human research protections at Washington University in St. Louis. She currently serves as the Associate Director of the Human Research Protection Office, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping and guiding ethical research practices. Carissa is a SMART IRB Ambassador and an active leader in national efforts to streamline and harmonize IRB processes. She has co-lead multiple SMART IRB harmonization working groups and serves on the SMART IRB Harmonization Steering Committee. Her works to bring to collaboration and innovation in research oversight in her role as an instructor for the SMART IRB Boot Camp. A recognized expert in her field, Carissa has presented at leading industry conferences, including PRIM&R and AAHRPP, where she shares insights on best practices, regulatory compliance, and IRB reliance.