Published May 8, 2019
Dear faculty and staff,
I write to share that Martha Jones, MA, CIP, Executive Director, Human Research Protection Office (HRPO), will be leaving the University as of July 10, 2019, to assume a Vice President positon at Partners Healthcare in Boston, MA. Martha joined Washington University in 2009, and was responsible for planning, developing and implementing processes, systems, programs, and activities to support the University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). Over the years, Martha has spearheaded multiple initiatives to streamline the administrative operations of the IRB and HRPO which resulted in efficient processes and decreased turnaround times of the protocol approvals for both the Danforth and Medical Center campuses. Martha also co-developed the IRB data management system, “myIRB,” which is currently used at WashU and the University of Iowa.
Prior to joining WashU, Martha was the director of the Human Subjects Office at the University of Iowa in Iowa City since 2004, and chair of the university’s IRBs since 2002. She was instrumental in leading the University of Iowa to become the first U.S. academic institution to achieve accreditation from the Association for Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs in 2003.
Nationally, Martha is a member of the PRIM&R Board, the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) Research and Regulatory Reform Subcommittee, the SMART IRB Harmonization Steering Committee, and co-leads the National Comprehensive Cancer Centers (NCCN) IRB Directors group. She is Vice Chair of the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAAHRP) Council, and a site visit team leader. In 2017, she received the AAHRPP Distinguished Team Leader Award. Martha earned a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology and a master’s degree in audiology, both from the University of Iowa.
Following Martha’s departure, Jeanne Velders will be the interim HRPO Executive Director. Jeanne was the Assistant Director of HRPO for 11 years, so is very familiar with the office.
We are conducting a national search to replace this essential position. The search committee is led by Yi Zhang and Johnnie Cartwright, with assistance from Nancy Donohoo, part of our Executive Recruitment team. Please send any nominations for candidates to:
Nancy J. Donohoo
Senior Consultant, University Executive Recruitment
Washington University in St. Louis
7509 Forsyth, Suite 150 Campus Box 8002 | St. Louis, MO 63105
ndonohoo@wustl.edu
Office: 314-935-2732
HRPO is well positioned to continue to advance initiatives and meet the day-to-day needs of our research community. As always, contact the HRPO at 314-747-6800 with any questions or concerns.
We will be holding a reception to say farewell to Martha on Tuesday, June 25, starting at 3 p.m. in the King Center on the 7th floor of the Bernard Becker Library.
Please join me in wishing Martha well in her new position.
Jennifer K. Lodge, PhD
Associate Dean for Research
Vice Chancellor for Research