University of British Columbia Launches e-Approvals Initiative with Webridge; Automated Review of Research Involving Animal Subjects in First of Multiple System Phases.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2003

Webridge announced today that its Compliance Extranet software has been selected to automate review and approvals of research involving animal subjects at the University of British Columbia.

As part of the e-Research component of its e-Strategy framework, the first phase of the system will allow UBC medical and behavioral researchers to initiate new research and renew applications electronically. The system is expected to save researchers and administrators significant amounts of time photocopying paper applications and re-entering data into databases by hand.

A Vision for "Frictionless" Research

Surveys of UBC animal research professionals showed a high degree of interest in and readiness to use a web-based system to replace the high-volumes of paper forms used to apply for research approvals. "Looking at approvals for animal-based research protocols is just our starting point," said Brent Sauder, Director, Office of Research Services. "We're laying the groundwork for approval processes involving human studies in our next phase. The ultimate goal is to reduce the friction in getting good research underway." Using Webridge Compliance Extranet's SmartForms(TM) will allow UBC to transform complex, multi-page paper applications into a series of logically-linked web forms that intelligently lead researchers to submissions with far fewer errors and corrections. Configured ...