Vanderbilt appoints inaugural director for new Social, Behavioral and Educational Research IRB (2024)

Liudmila Tahai has been appointed as the inaugural director of the newly formed Vanderbilt University Social, Behavioral and Educational Research Institutional Review Board. Tahai’s appointment marks a pivotal moment as the university continues to tailor its new IRB services to better support most human participant studies conducted at Vanderbilt University.

“I am honored to join Vanderbilt and look forward to working closely with the research community to build a robust human research protection program,” Tahai said. “My immediate priorities include understanding Vanderbilt’s unique research environment, establishing effective communication channels and building strong relationships with key stakeholders.”

Tahai brings a wealth of experience in biomedical, social and behavioral research ethics. Before joining Vanderbilt, she served as the assistant director of the Office of Human Research at George Washington University, where she led a team of regulatory experts, oversaw research ethics and compliance training programs, and played a crucial role in developing compliance policies.

Currently, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Human Research Protections Program (including the IRB) reviews most Vanderbilt University studies. Tahai will play a key role in the creation of Vanderbilt’s own human research protections program, which will provide education and support to the new SBER IRB and the research community.

“I want to thank Provost Raver for her support in building out the new IRB, which allows our respective institutions to more effectively support our researchers,” Vice Provost for Research and Innovation Padma Raghavan said. “I also want to thank Liz Zechmeister, Liane Moneta-Koehler and all our stakeholders for helping devise this plan, and VUMC leadership for their ongoing partnership and collaboration to ensure a smooth transition.”

Tahai emphasized the importance of leveraging the expertise of the IRB Advisory Committee and faculty collaborators to optimize IRB processes and build a strong foundation for Vanderbilt’s new human research protections program.

“The Vanderbilt research community has voiced high expectations alongside a willingness to put in the effort required to develop a highly effective SBER IRB,” said Liz Zechmeister, associate provost for research and innovation and chair of the SBER IRB Advisory Committee. “The Advisory Committee is an active and engaged resource for Mila as she leads the design and implementation of this new program.”

To ensure a smooth integration of the new IRB within Vanderbilt’s research ecosystem, Tahai will establish mechanisms for regular feedback and align IRB policies with the following guiding principles:

• Support excellence in protecting participants
• Nurture collaboration and communication
• Encourage innovation and forward-thinking
• Be accessible and supportive

“We will offer direct channels for researcher feedback, such as a feedback form on the IRB website and regular office hours with Human Research Protection Program staff,” Tahai said. Additionally, outreach sessions will foster open dialogue and collaboration, ensuring that the new IRB meets researchers’ needs and expectations.

To communicate updates and essential information effectively, the IRB will maintain an accessible website and implement a system to send important updates directly to researchers. Educational and outreach sessions will also be conducted to share updates and resources, fostering engagement and understanding of regulatory requirements, institutional policies and IRB processes.

As Vanderbilt University embarks on this new chapter, Tahai’s leadership promises to bring specialized expertise and a renewed focus on advancing the university’s discovery and innovation goals in social, behavioral and educational research.

Monthly online meetings are held to discuss the development of the new IRB and allow participants to ask questions. All members of the Vanderbilt research community are invited to join. For more information about these sessions, visit the Vanderbilt University Events Calendar. The next meeting will be July 24, 10–11 a.m.

For assistance with IRB-related matters or more information about VU SBER IRB, email the Research Integrity and Compliance team at ric@vanderbilt.edu or visit their Human Subjects Research webpage.

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