Good afternoon,
I am happy to announce that Cassandra (Cassie) Myers has been named Director of the Office of Human Research Ethics (OHRE) effective Monday, December 3rd.
Myers served as the Deputy Director of OHRE until assuming the Interim Director role in early September. She came to Carolina by way of Allina Health in Minnesota where she served as the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Manager. Prior to her time at Allina Health, she gained valuable experience and exposure through progressive positions with United Health Group, Park Nicollet/HealthPartners, Children’s Hospital and Clinics of MN/IRB and the Mayo Clinic.
The OHRE is responsible for ethical and regulatory oversight of research at UNC-Chapel Hill that involves human subjects. The OHRE administers, supports, and guides the work of the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and all related activities. Any research involving human subjects proposed by faculty, staff, or students must be reviewed and approved by an IRB before research may begin, and before related grants may be funded. OHRE and the IRBs are critical components of the coordinated Human Research Protection Program, which serves to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects.
As the Director of OHRE, Myers will be assuring that the actions of the OHRE, are done in compliance with Federal, State, Local and institutional regulations, guidelines and procedures. She will be overseeing the OHRE staff, Carolina’s six IRBs, the Safety Committee and the Safety and Welfare Analysis Group. In the oversight role, she will be responsible for keeping the office within budget; performance reviews and staff issues; hiring and development of professional staff. In addition, she will ensure that all OHRE staff and IRB members, Principal Investigators and study teams, as well as university officials, are provided with on-going training and education, as needed.
Her expertise in the regulations of the Office of Human Research Protection (OHRP) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will prove extremely beneficial as we transition to the provisions of the revised Common Rule in January. Myers is a certified IRB professional (CIP) who is committed to the protection of human subjects, excellent customer service and continuous process improvement. We are fortunate to have someone with her skills and experience to lead the OHRE and provide critical institutional support to our Institutional Review Boards. Please join me in welcoming Cassie to her new role as the Director of the OHRE.
Robin L. Cyr, CCEP
Research Compliance Officer
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research