Alan,

I work with several hospital who have been charging fees for the past 3-4
years.  I administrate 3 hospital IRB's and have just started an independent
IRB through Chidren's Hospital-San Diego to service the clinical
investigators in the community - we have a lot!

Each of my hospitals have been charging $200 per funded protocol and we waive
the fee if the study is not funded or if the funding is minimal and only
covers minimal costs.  The reason for instituting the fees was to allow
researchers who are being paid to conduct research to share in the cost of
providing an IRB to review the research.  The fee has remained minimal
compared to the cost of the IRB to the institutions and when compared to
review by an independent IRB, though I am in the process of raising the fee
to $300 at two of my hospitals.  As I provide IRB administration as an
independent contractor specialist to these 2 hosptials, the money helps those
hospitals to pay my fee.
The money brought in is used to offset to cost of the IRB office and service.
 We choose to set the fees low because it was such a culture shock to the
investigators to even think about paying for this service at the hospitals.
 I include a bill or fee for service sheet in the package of materials I send
out to all the investigators.  At Children's Hospital-San Diego we charge for
protocol review ($200), amendments ($50 each) and annual reviews ($50 each,
including the final review).  I am increasing this price for the 2 other
hospitals I contract with.

For the Independent IRB I have just started at Children's Hosptial, we are
charging at the low end of the market, compared to other independent IRBs.
 Protocol review is $900, with charges for amendment/addendums, annual
reviews, consent development and other miscellenous services.  This is for a
7 day turn around on service.  We're offering local investigators the chance
to keep their IRB review in San Diego instead of having to send out of state
for this service.

It appears that charging an IRB fee for the review of funded research is
becoming more of a standard practice, particularly considering the cost to
the institution providing the service.  Good luck with your IRB.

Rebecca Clark