Chesapeake IRB, a technology-enabled independent institutional review board (IRB) serving the clinical research industry, announced it has acquired MaGil IRB, a central IRB located in Rockville, Md.

The MaGil acquisition provides Chesapeake with additional AAHRPP-accredited review capacity and a talented staff that further broadens Chesapeake’s presence for CROs, pharmaceutical companies and biotech companies. This marks Chesapeake’s fifth acquisition of an AAHRPP-accredited IRB since 2013, further positioning itself as the best IRB to support the growth in the clinical research industry.

“Today we are delighted to welcome MaGil IRB to the Chesapeake family,” said Jeff Wendel, president and CEO of Chesapeake. “Together, we are even better positioned to deliver unparalleled human subject protections and oversight and exceptional client service.”

“Joining with Chesapeake allows MaGil customers to benefit from Chesapeake’s innovative cloud-based IRB platform, CIRBI, while continuing the joint mission of safeguarding the rights and welfare of clinical research participants,” said Gil Price, co-founder and CEO of MaGil IRB.

Chesapeake IRB also has acquired Institutional Biosafety Corporation (IBC), a provider of institutional biosafety committee services located in Rockville, Md.

The acquisition of IBC expands Chesapeake’s services with the capability to provide comprehensive review and oversight of research utilizing recombinant or synthetic DNA molecules, including clinical trials involving genetic engineering and gene therapy.

“We are excited to partner with IBC to offer comprehensive biosafety support services that will further serve our customers conducting biological and biomedical clinical research trials,” said  Wendel. “Together with our market-leading IRB services, we now offer customers the ability to properly assess the biosafety precautions essential for mitigating risks to researchers and patients.”

“By utilizing the exceptional Chesapeake platform, Chesapeake’s IRB review process and IBC’s institutional biosafety committee services, we can offer the speed, efficiency and quality customers need to grow their research capacity and safeguard research participants,” said Price.

Federal regulations require institutions to have institutional biosafety committee oversight if they are conducting research involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acid molecules (r/sNA) and are funded by the NIH or taking place at sites that receive NIH funding. Many privately sponsored studies voluntarily utilize institutional biosafety committee services due to their interest in seeking NIH funding, other third-party regulatory requirements, or for enhanced research safety oversight.