Phase 1 Successfully Launched

We are pleased to share that Phase 1 of HRPP alignment is now live.

As of January 2026, Brown University, Brown University Health, and Care New England are now operating under a single aligned HRPP structure at Brown University and the first full-committee review of the unified research portfolio.  This marks a major step forward in creating a consistent, streamlined, and collaborative research review environment across the BIRCH institutions.

Researchers now interact with a single, unified HRPP structure across all three institutions, with centralized operations, contacts, and review practices. Protocols requiring full committee review are handled by one of four standing IRB panels that meet monthly, providing a consistent and streamlined review process.

During the transition, both IRBNet and Huron will remain active.

• One panel is reviewing in Huron; three panels continue in IRBNet.
• HRPP will triage submissions to the appropriate system.
• Researchers should continue submitting in their current system unless instructed otherwise.
• Non-committee reviews will proceed as usual.

This alignment reduces variation across sites and simplifies multi-institution research. With Phase 1 successfully underway, we are now actively preparing for the next stages of the alignment.

Phase 1 – Live (January 2026)

• HRPP operations aligned under Brown University
• Full Committee submissions may be reviewed by any of the four aligned IRB panels.
• Researchers are supported by one HRPP team and one set of operational practices

Phase 2 – In Progress (March 2026)

• Revised SmartForms will launch in Huron.
• A new Huron registration process will be implemented for study teams.
• Expanded training and onboarding will prepare users for the system transition.

Phase 3 – Upcoming (Spring 2026)

• Active studies will migrate from IRBNet into Huron.
• All studies will be managed in one system moving forward.
• IRBNet will be retired once the transition is complete.

Together, these phases will create a simpler, more consistent research experience.

After more than two years of careful planning, the full alignment of all Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) operations of Brown University, Brown University Health and Care New England is underway under the Brown University umbrella in 2026.

As part of the BIRCH initiative, our approach is two-fold: first, HRPP operations aligned in January 2026 while both submission systems, IRBNet and Huron, continue to be used. Next, active research will migrate into Huron IRB, transitioning to a single system moving forward. By separating these two major changes, operational alignment and system migration, we make the process more manageable and help ensure a successful transition.

What’s Now in Place

• Central HRPP and IRB administration at Brown University
• Single IRB submission for reliance studies across BIRCH institutions
• Four monthly IRB panels supporting consistent, predictable review
• One unified IRB roster with combined expertise
• Centralized regulatory advising and post-approval monitoring
• Centralized training, support, and points of contact

Coming Soon: Standardized Resources and Centralized Support

• Standardized forms, templates, and policies across institutions are coming soon. These changes will primarily impact the Care New England research community. A variety of training and educational materials have been prepared in the HRPP Education Center to help researchers navigate these updates. To support a smooth transition, a central HRPP booking calendar and support services page will also be available soon.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Structure and Meeting Schedule

A single, flexible IRB roster will support four dedicated panels. These panels will meet once per month, on the first, second, third, and fourth weeks.  All meetings are set for Wednesdays or Thursdays between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.

The panels will feature a generalist composition, ensuring the combined roster reflects the full range of research in our current portfolio.

Specifically, each panel will include the necessary mix of scientists and non-scientists, affiliated and unaffiliated members as mandated by federal regulations. To maximize review capability, panels will also combine diverse experience, including:

• Biomedical and social-behavioral expertise
• Reviewers experienced in pediatric and pregnancy research
• Experience in oncology and other specialties
• A variety of academic degrees (MD, PhD, Pharm D, BS, BA, etc.)
• Mixed representation from all institutions affiliated with this project.

This comprehensive approach guarantees that any new research can be competently reviewed by any of the four panels, creating the most flexible and optimal model for our organizations.

Each panel will be led by a Chair and Vice Chair, consistent with common practice. Additionally, an Executive Chair will focus on administrative oversight, process coordination, and strategic planning across all panels.

These nine individuals will form the leadership team, working collaboratively as equal members fully engaged in policy discussions, planning, and decision-making.

View the 2026 Meeting Schedule

Important Note on Data Transfer Agreements

While HRPP operations are aligning across the three institutions, data transfer agreements and related policies remain institution specific and unchanged. Researchers should continue to follow their home institution’s established processes for data sharing and transfer. Aligning data related processes remains a longer term goal to support streamlined research collaboration.

Single IRB (sIRB) Updates

To support collaborative research, new studies involving reliance between Brown University, Brown University Health, and/or Care New England can now use a single IRB submission for all BIRCH sites. Reliance agreements will be executed administratively through HRPP, and no separate submission to the relying site(s) will be required.

This approach:

• Reduces duplicative submissions and administrative burden
• Improves consistency in review and communication
• Supports efficient study start up for collaborative research
• Clarifies roles and responsibilities across institutions

All reliance agreements will be reviewed by submitting a modification after overall study approval.

• New studies expecting to submit a reliance request with a BIRCH affiliated site can be submitted in their usual submission system (IRBNet or Huron). To submit a study in Huron, the Principal Investigator must have an active Huron account. If study management will be delegated to another individual, that person must also have Huron access.. After initial approval, the Investigator must submit a modification to the approved study requesting to enact a reliance agreement.
• Requests for the addition of a relying site on an existing, active study should submit a modification to the currently reviewing IRB of Record.  

Investigators should use the forms and follow the processes associated with their submission system (IRBNet or Huron). To support this transitionary period, a new form has been created,  HRP-899 - FORM: Reliance Cover Page.  This additional form must be uploaded with the modification request and serves as documentation of the engaged sites, research locations and study personnel. 

Example:

A Brown University investigator submits a new study in Huron that will involve reliance with Brown University Health. The study is reviewed and approved in a single submission. After approval, the investigator submits a modification in Huron and uploads the typically required documents and the HRP-899 Reliance Cover Page to request enactment of the reliance agreement. HRPP executes the reliance agreement administratively, and no separate submission to Brown University Health IRBNet is required.

To check for Huron access, you can log into Huron or check for active Brown University credentials at https://myaccount.brown.edu/.  Additional guidance and submission details will be shared as implementation continues.

Questions about sIRB review may be directed to reliance@brown.edu.

Phase 2 focuses on preparing systems and users for the full alignment by launching revised SmartForms in Huron IRB and opening early registration for new users.

Revised SmartForms in Huron IRB

Revised SmartForms will be released in Huron IRB to support the aligned HRPP structure and review processes. These forms will be available only in Huron and only to current Huron users. The updates are designed to streamline submissions and ensure consistency across all three institutions.

To understand what has changed in the SmartForms, please review the training on the Training page:  What’s New in Huron IRB for Returning Users

Early Huron Registration

Early registration for Huron will also open during Phase 2. This will allow individuals who do not currently have access—but will need access in the future—to register in advance.

• If you will need Huron access: registration will be required.
• If you do not need Huron access: no action is needed.

Reminder: All personnel who will engage in human subjects research must have a Huron account in order to be added to the personnel list in the Basic Information Form.

To support the transition of active projects from IRBNet to Huron, personnel lists from IRBNet have been preloaded into Huron so that study team members will appear in applications at go-live. However, if any of those personnel will also need to log in and use Huron, they must complete the registration process to activate their account.

Why This Matters

Together, these milestones allow new projects to begin routing through Huron IRB approximately 3–4 weeks before go-live. This transition period is critical to avoid a blackout period for new submissions and to ensure a smooth, uninterrupted start for research teams.

Phase 3 is the final step in the HRPP alignment and marks the transition to one centralized system for managing all active human subjects research. In this phase, all active exempt, expedited, and full committee studies from BUH and CNE currently in IRBNet will be migrated into Huron IRB.

Which Studies Will Be Migrated

Only active projects will be migrated. “Active” refers to studies that have received a final outcome of Approved (or Site Activation for single IRB studies). Any projects that have not reached this status when data is pulled from IRBNet will not be migrated and must be manually entered into Huron after go-live.

What Will Be Migrated

Studies will be imported into Huron IRB as project shells with limited project-level data, examples including:

• Study title
• Principal Investigator (PI)
• Protocol number
• Initial approval date
• Expiration date (if applicable)
• Level of review/risk category
• Basic study identifiers

A list of project information that will be imported in Huron is available in the HRPP Alignment Education Center. 

What Will Not Be Migrated

Due to system limitations, the following cannot be migrated:

• Project history (e.g., modifications, continuing reviews, reportable information)
• Reviewer comments or determinations
• Study documents (e.g., protocols, consent forms, recruitment materials)

All historical records will remain in IRBNet, which will continue to be available for reference and audit purposes.

Research Team Actions After Go-Live

After migration, study teams must:

• Upload current, active study documents only into the Huron project.
• Do not upload historical or superseded documents.
• Review and confirm the accuracy of all project data in Huron.

Only PIs and designated PI proxies are authorized to submit in Huron. PIs will be loaded with their projects, and PI proxies will also be added to support completion of the initial project setup.

Important Timing Notice

To support a smooth transition:

• In-progress submissions in IRBNet must be finalized one week before go-live.

A comprehensive, institution specific training and support plan is in place to prepare researchers, study teams, and IRB members for the Huron IRB transition.

Support includes:

• HRPP Toolkit orientation materials
• Role based Huron training
• Live sessions, office hours, and one on one assistance

Links to training materials can be accessed here:

Access training materials

Throughout this process, the Brown HRPP is committed to providing comprehensive support:

• Dedicated Transition Help Desk
• Live Chat and Email Support
• 1-on-1 Assistance by Appointment

Links to support resources will be published as soon as they are available. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the HRPP with any questions or concerns at irb@brown.edu.

Stay Informed

The Brown HRPP will continue to share updates via email, this webpage, the HRPP Insider newsletter, and through department administrators. Please check back regularly for new information, FAQs, and additional resources.

Register for CREW: Collaborative Research Engagement Workgroup

The Collaborative Research Engagement Workgroup (CREW) is a monthly virtual meeting hosted by the HRPP to foster engagement and collaboration with the research community. CREW provides a forum for researchers, staff, and stakeholders to share updates, discuss best practices, and address questions or challenges related to human research protections. These sessions are open to all members of the research community and are designed to encourage dialogue, provide timely updates, and strengthen connections across institutions.

CREW meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month from 2-3 p.m. (new time)

REGISTER TO RECEIVE CALENDAR INVITES

Thank You for Attending the HRPP Town Halls

Thank you to everyone who joined the December HRPP Town Halls. We appreciate your engagement and thoughtful questions as we shared updates on ongoing progress and the planned HRPP alignment in January 2026.

For those who were unable to attend or would like a refresher, the final Town Hall was recorded and is available here: 

HRPP Town Hall Zoom Recording

Thank you for your cooperation and engagement during this transition. This move will enhance our ability to support ethical, efficient, and collaborative research across all institutions.