The RapidIRB Story
Born From Frustration, Built For Freedom
Every great innovation starts with a problem too painful to ignore. For Rapid IRB, that problem was clear: researchers were being stonewalled by a broken system.
Months of waiting. Thousands spent on consultants. Promising projects stalled not because the ideas lacked value, but because the process stood in the way.
For Dr. Alysia Adams, this was not an abstract problem. It was her life.
As Division Director at the University of Florida Health in Jacksonville, faculty at the UF College of Nursing, Director of Educational Partnerships at AONL, and experienced entrepreneur and a published researcher, she experienced the grind again and again. No platform, no consultant, no solution could deliver compliant and immediate IRB determinations.
So she asked the question: If the system doesn’t work, why not build a better one?
The Spark
That question turned into action. For two years Alysia poured her expertise, her frustration, and her vision into creating a new way. She researched, tested, and refined. At the end of that journey came a breakthrough: a patented algorithm capable of providing instant, federally compliant IRB determinations.
RapidIRB was born.
The First Of Its Kind
Fun fact: Rapid IRB is the first platform in the world to solve this problem for researchers across healthcare, education, and business. What once took months now takes minutes.
The platform includes two groundbreaking tools:
- Quality Improvement & Practice-Based Research Tool to quickly determine if a project qualifies as QI
- Exempt Determination Tool to verify if research qualifies for exempt status
Both are federally validated, fully compliant, and designed so researchers maintain full rights and ownership of their work, at an affordable price, instantly.
Our Mission
At Rapid IRB, our mission is to accelerate ethical research by delivering fast, compliant, and reliable IRB determinations for exempt and quality improvement studies. We empower investigators to advance innovation without unnecessary delays while upholding the highest standards of ethical oversight. We aim to revolutionize research by enabling more practice-based evidence that then supports evidence-based practice.
RapidIRB is officially registered with the Office of Human Research Protections:
IRB00014585 and FWA00035509
These registrations represent our commitment to federal-wide assurance and to protecting the integrity of every research project we touch.
An Independent IRB — For Exempt and QI Determinations
Rapid IRB operates independent of any single university or hospital — researchers anywhere can use our tools without an internal IRB seat or a faculty sponsor.
Our scope is intentionally focused: exempt determinations and Quality Improvement/Not Human Subjects Research (QI/NHSR) determinations, delivered in minutes instead of months. We don’t conduct expedited or full-board review for higher-risk studies — that’s a different track, and one we’re upfront about not covering.
The Team Behind The Revolution
No revolution happens alone. To make her vision real, Alysia, now CEO of Rapid IRB, brought together a team of co-founders who shared the same passion and drive.
But every revolution also needs guardians, leaders who make sure speed never comes at the cost of integrity. That’s where our Institutional Review Board Committee stands at the core of Rapid IRB’s mission:
- Dr. Zachary Krom,– IRB Chair
- Dr. Courtnay Caufield – IRB Vice Chair
- Dr. Paula Coe – Scientist Member
- Melia Barnhill – Non-Scientist Member
- Dr. Deborah Brabham – Scientist Member
- Dr. Tony McGuire – Non-Affiliate Committee Member
This committee doesn’t just check boxes. They embody the highest standards of ethical oversight, ensuring every determination Rapid IRB delivers is not only fast but federally compliant and unshakably credible.
Together, this team and our IRB committee turned pain into progress. They built the world’s first online platform that transforms IRB determinations from an obstacle into an opportunity.
What We Stand For
Rapid IRB isn’t just a platform. It is a stand against unnecessary delays, costly gatekeepers, and outdated systems.
- We believe researchers deserve speed. Innovation should not wait months for approval.
- We believe researchers deserve ownership. Your work should remain yours.
- We believe researchers deserve compliance without compromise. Regulations should support research, not suffocate it.
- We believe researchers deserve freedom. Freedom to pursue, publish, and push forward.
The Vision Ahead
This is just the beginning. Rapid IRB was born out of pain but built with hope. By removing barriers, we can unlock breakthroughs. Breakthroughs in healthcare, in education, in business, in the lives of people who need answers faster than the old systems can deliver.
We exist to make sure ideas don’t die waiting for approval.
Minutes, Not Months. Full compliance. Full ownership. Worldwide.
That is our promise. That is our revolution. That is Rapid IRB.
For additional details about our review process, eligibility criteria, and common research scenarios, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Our IRB Committee
PhD, RN, CCRN, CHSE, NPD-BC
IRB Chair
Courtnay Caufield, DNP, RN CENP, NI-BC, FACHE, FAONL
IRB Vice Chair
Dr. Deborah Brabham, PhD, RN, CNE
IRB Scientific Committee Member
Paula Coe, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, FAONL
Scientific Committee Member
Melia Barnhill, M.ED
IRB Non-scientific Committee Member
Dr. Anthony McGuire, PhD, ACNP-BC, FAHA
IRB Scientific Committee Member
Trusted Partners
Leading organizations committed to advancing research proudly recommend Rapid IRB to their members, faculty, researchers, and employees.
Join the growing community of researchers accelerating innovation.
Powerful Tools for Research Compliance
Our comprehensive suite of tools helps you navigate the complex landscape of research ethics and regulatory compliance for low-risk studies.
QIPR Tool
Determine if your project qualifies as Quality Improvement
Get an instant determination for your Quality Improvement and Practice-based Research projects with our expert-designed assessment tool.
Exempt Determination Tool
Check if your research qualifies for exempt status
Receive an instantaneous and valid exempt determination under federal regulations for low-risk research studies.