Interested in serving on the IRB? We welcome faculty, clinicians, staff, and community members with a passion for human research ethics.

Learn More About Joining the IRB

• The HRPP maintains one IRB roster with four panels, each meeting virtually once per month.
• Meeting schedules are shared in advance, and agendas and review materials are distributed approximately 10 days before each meeting.
• Quorum is the minimum number of voting members required to conduct an official IRB meeting. Because quorum must be maintained, consistent member attendance is essential.
• Meeting minutes and determination letters are prepared and approved by the HRPP. Approved minutes are reported to the IRB at the subsequent meeting.
• Committee members are encouraged to review materials in advance to support efficient and meaningful discussion.

View Full IRB Calendar

Access Meeting Materials

IRB members can securely access meeting materials, agendas, and reviewer assignments through our eIRB system.

• Log in to Huron IRB (Panel 1)
• Log in to IRBNet (Panels 2, 3, & 4)

The HRPP provides orientation and onboarding for all new IRB members to support a smooth transition into the role.

Committee members are expected to complete and maintain required training.

• Human Subjects Protection training (CITI Program)
• Conflict of Interest disclosures
• Role-specific training, as applicable (e.g., designated reviewer or special population)
• Continuing education opportunities and refreshers

Ongoing education is critical to staying current with federal regulations, ethical considerations, and institutional policies.

• CITI Program
• IRB Member Manual [PDF]

The IRB Member Manual is the primary resource for IRB member guidance, expectations, and procedures. It is a comprehensive document that is routinely updated.

Committee members are expected to stay informed about relevant IRB policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), reviewer worksheets, and checklists that support consistent, high-quality review. Worksheets and checklists are the primary tools used in IRB review. Worksheets, such as the Worksheet: Criteria for Approval, guide regulatory decision-making, while checklists, such as the Checklist: Waiver of Consent, document required regulatory determinations and become part of the official IRB record.

Members should also familiarize themselves with protocol and informed consent templates. These templates include detailed instructions for researchers, and understanding how investigators are directed to develop these documents is helpful when evaluating submissions during the review process.

All documents and resources are available in the HRPP Toolkit Library.

The HRPP team is available to support committee members with:

• Regulatory and policy questions
• Use of the electronic IRB system
• Interpretation of institutional requirements
• Ongoing education and quality improvement initiatives

For questions or assistance, please contact the HRPP office: IRB@brown.edu.

Committee member feedback is valued and helps strengthen the HRPP. Members may be asked to participate in evaluations, process improvement efforts, or educational initiatives.

Thank you for your service and commitment to protecting research participants.