ePIRATE General Information

Who can I contact for help with ePIRATE? 

If you wish to speak with someone for assistance with ePIRATE, please call the UMCIRB office at 252-744-2914. This line is staffed Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Voicemail is checked regularly by UMCIRB staff. Voicemail messages are regularly returned within one business day.

Who should I email if I have a question or feedback?

Please email any questions or feedback about ePIRATE to umcirb@ecu.edu. This email account is monitored by UMCIRB staff Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The staff responds to emails regularly within one business day.

Is there help available in person?

Yes, feel free to contact UMCIRB to schedule one-on-one or group ePIRATE training.

Tips on ePIRATE Resource Assistance

When contacting UMCIRB for help with ePIRATE, please be as specific as possible about the type of problem(s) you are experiencing. The more information UMCIRB staff has about the issue(s) you are encountering, the more effectively they can assist you. We request the following information from all users contacting the office for ePIRATE assistance:

  • Name and contact information
  • Study number and primary investigator name
  • Issue details

All requests for assistance will be triaged to help users with the most acute needs first.

What are ePIRATE user roles?

  • Investigator: Investigators conduct research requiring approval from an IRB. An investigator may be a faculty member, staff or student. An investigator may also be someone who plans to conduct research at an affiliate institution for which the UMCIRB serves as the IRB of record, such as Vidant Medical Center.
  • Research Personnel: A research personnel member is a study coordinator or other member of a research team.
  • Faculty Mentor or Supervisor: A faculty mentor or supervisor is a faculty member who accepts responsibility for activity overseeing the conduct of approved human research where the primary investigator is either a student resident, fellow or visiting faculty.
  • Department Approver, Dean or Associate Dean: A department approver, dean or associate dean is a person that serves in one of these university roles. They are required to provide a signature of approval for research to be conducted in their area.
  • Ancillary Approver: If you require access to study submissions in ePIRATE in order to conduct an ancillary review and approval for your department or division you should register for this role.
  • IRB Committee Member: An IRB committee member serves as a full, alternate or ex-officio member of one of ECU’s IRB committees.
  • Human Protections Administrator (HPA) or ECU Administrator: If you are the identified HPA for an institution or an administrator who requires access to study submissions in ePIRATE for the purposes of your job then you should register for this role.
  • Consultant: If you have been called upon to serve as a consultant to the UMCIRB in the review of a human research study submission you should register for this role.