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The HRPP Insider
Updates from the Human Research Protection Program serving Brown University, Brown University Health, and Care New England.
August 2026
Huron Transition Updates & Helpful Reminders
Thank You for Your Patience
Thank you for your patience as we continue our transition to Huron. As with any new system implementation, there is a learning curve for both HRPP staff and research teams.
During this transition, you may notice:
Inconsistent review comments as workflows are refined.
Multiple pre-review rounds as new issues are identified.
Additional requests for clarification while we continue to standardize our processes.
We appreciate your understanding as we work toward a more consistent, efficient review process for everyone.
Action Required: Register Your Temporary
Huron Account
This notice applies only to individuals who received an email indicating they were assigned a temporary Huron account during the migration process.
If you are still actively involved in human subjects research, you must register your temporary Huron account: Register here
Registration allows you to:
Match your temporary account to an existing Brown account, or
Convert your temporary account into a permanent account.
Don't wait. Temporary accounts will be purged. If your account is not registered, you may lose your association with active studies and be unable to participate in future research submissions.
If you are no longer conducting human subjects research, complete the Huron Registration Opt-Out Form to stop receiving registration reminders.
Questions? Contact the HRPP office for assistance.
Before You Read On...
Some guidance in this newsletter applies to all studies, while other information is specific to Single IRB or Multi-site/Collaborative studies.
Huron includes dedicated workflows for Single IRB studies, so some processes differ from those used for locally reviewed studies. Throughout this newsletter, we've identified when guidance applies to all studies versus only Single IRB/Multi-site studies.
Population Modifications
Applies to all study types
Huron Tips for a Smoother Submission
Verify Study Enrollment Status
When submitting a Modification, ensure the Study Enrollment Status matches the enrollment status from the most recently approved Continuing Review in IRBNet.
Submit Editable Documents
Whenever possible, upload clean, current Microsoft Word (.docx) versions of protocols, consent/assent forms, recruitment materials, and other study documents. Huron tracks revisions in Word, making reviews more efficient before converting approved documents to PDF.
Consent Reminder: Remove any footer text from the bottom left corner of consent and assent documents. This space is reserved for the Huron approval stamp.
Keep CITI Information Current
Principal Investigators remain responsible for ensuring all research team members maintain current CITI training.
Coming Soon: Users will be able to add or update their own CITI ID directly in Huron.
If your Training tab displays "No Training Courses Found," your CITI ID is likely missing. Once the enhancement is available, you can update your CITI ID yourself to ensure your training records are linked correctly.
Questions?
If pre-review or reviewer comments are unclear, use the Add Comment feature in Huron so HRPP staff can respond directly within your submission. Make sure to select the IRB Coordinator should receive an email, so that they are notified as soon as possible.
Need additional assistance? Submit a SHIP ticket to request guidance or schedule a consultation. More information can be found on the Need Assistance page.
Multi-site/Collaborative Studies
Applies to Multi-site/Collaborative Studies
Each affiliated institution with its own Federalwide Assurance (FWA) is considered a separate engaged institution.
Example: A study conducted at both Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital is considered Multi-site/Collaborative, even though both are part of Brown University Health.
Documenting Affiliated Institutions in Huron
Important Difference for Multi-site/Collaborative IRB Research:
For externally reviewed studies, there are two options to revise the record, “Update Study Details” and “Create Site Modification.” Each selection opens a different set of pages within the electronic study record (E-Form).
“Update Study Details” - to provide information already approved by the IRB of Record.
“Create Site Modification” - for updates specific to the local site.
You will need to create both types of submissions to fully populate your study record.
Basic Study Information – Short Title
Include historical IRBNet study numbers in the Short Title to preserve continuity with prior records.
Example:
[BUH-1234567; WIH-7654321]
If your study has already been processed, simply add the historical study numbers as a submission comment.
Basic Study Information – Affiliated Institutions
Select all affiliated institutions engaged in the research. This is specific to engaged research activities at each site for the individual study and not an acknowledgement of the PI or study team members various institutional affiliations.
An institution is considered engaged if it:
Interacts with research participants;
Has access to identifiable research data; or
Is the prime awardee for federally funded research.
Remember:
At least one affiliated institution must be selected.
Include every engaged affiliated site.
Selecting multiple affiliated institutions designates the study as Multi-site/Collaborative.
Single IRB & Reliance Updates
Applies to Single IRB and Reliance Studies
To improve consistency and reduce duplicate records, HRPP is harmonizing studies involving reliance agreements.
Affiliated Reliance Studies
For affiliated institutions relying on another affiliated reviewing IRB:
Individual relying-site records were administratively closed prior to migration.
Research activities remain active.
Oversight is now managed through a single Huron study record maintained by the reviewing site.
Studies Relying on an External IRB
When multiple affiliated institutions rely on the same external IRB for a single project, research teams may choose to consolidate submissions into one Huron study record.
A consolidated record should include:
All active approved documents for every affiliated site.
One PI listed on the Basic Study Information page.
Additional affiliated PIs listed as study team members (as determined by the research team).
Historical IRBNet study numbers included in the Short Title (or added as a submission comment if the study has already been processed).
All affiliated study team members listed in the record
Please note: Consolidation is optional and may not be appropriate for every study (for example, certain NCI or StrokeNet studies).
Thank You
Thank you for your continued partnership as we implement Huron. Your patience, feedback, and collaboration are helping us build a more efficient, consistent research review process for our research community. Don’t forget live training continues to be available to all!
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.
