The Human Research Protection Program serving Brown University, Brown University Health, and Care New England.
March 23, 2026
As we enter the final stretch of HRPP alignment, March marks a pivotal point in transitioning to a more unified, efficient, and integrated program. With Phase 1 complete, we are moving quickly toward full integration in May, with several major milestones happening in succession.
Phase 2 Launches – March 26
Phase 2 introduces two key updates:
Revised SmartForms in Huron
Huron registration process
The revised SmartForms improve the submission experience while minimizing impact on current users. They also allow new projects to be submitted in Huron IRB 3–4 weeks before data migration, avoiding a blackout period for new projects.
Beginning March 26, new users who need Huron access may register. Only individuals without a Brown ID need to register. All active personnel in IRBNet will be preloaded into Huron and will appear after data migration. No registration is required for existing personnel who do not need Huron access. For more information, visit the HRPP Alignment page.
Important: Huron will be offline for a few hours starting at 5:30 PM on March 25 to support these updates.
CNE Toolkit Transition – Begins March 30
The CNE Toolkit transition will run for five weeks, starting March 30.
All new submissions on or after March 30 must use Brown’s forms and templates, available on the Brown HRPP Toolkit Library page and the IRBNet Forms and Templates Library.
Training and support resources include:
HRPP Alignment Education Center – central hub for training and support materials.
Live group sessions – listed under “Live Training and Support Sessions” on the HRPP Alignment page.
Living FAQ – continuously updated as new questions arise.
Following the transition, all HRPP administrators, IRB members, and researchers will use a unified set of IRB materials, supporting a consistent and efficient review process.
Single IRB Progress
Since January, a single application has been implemented for research involving Brown University, Brown Health, and Care New England requiring a single IRB.
Beginning April 1, HRPP will close out relying site projects and maintain a single reviewing IRB record moving forward. This does not affect existing reliance agreements. No action is required by investigators.
For more information, visit the HRPP Alignment page.
Looking Ahead
We are now more than halfway through alignment and on track for full integration in May.
The final stage is the migration of active research from IRBNet to Huron IRB. After migration, Huron will serve as the system of record.
Researchers should review:
What to expect during migration
How to prepare for migration
Required actions after migration
CNE and BUH researchers should review what data will migrate and complete project records in Huron to ensure all active study documents are current.
Comprehensive guidance, timelines, and training are available on the HRPP Alignment page and HRPP Alignment Education Center.
Training & Support Resources
Training and support are available for all users, regardless of role or experience. Resources include:
HRPP Alignment Page – background information and details on upcoming changes.
HRPP Alignment Education Center – central hub for self-paced training courses, support documents, and other resources.
Live Support Booking Calendar – schedule live assistance sessions under “Live Training and Support Sessions.” A support portal and consult request system will be available soon.
These resources provide guidance referenced in this newsletter and are continuously updated to support users throughout the HRPP alignment.
Thank You
Thank you for your continued engagement as we move toward a more streamlined and integrated HRPP.
Through the BIRCH initiative, the Brown HRPP will provide unified oversight for human subjects research across Brown University, Care New England, and Brown University Health, with Brown University serving as the IRB of record for all three institutions.
