The Human Research Protection Program serving Brown University, Brown University Health, and Care New England.
March 16, 2026
CNE Research Community Update
Transition to Brown’s HRPP Toolkit
The time has arrived for the CNE research community to fully transition to the Brown University Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) Toolkit. This milestone brings all HRPP administrators, IRB members, and researchers under a shared set of IRB materials, helping create a more efficient, consistent, and aligned review process across our research community.
Many of you have heard about the Toolkit for quite some time. Our goal has been to gradually introduce these materials and provide ample time for researchers to orient themselves ahead of this final transition. Over the past several months, all Toolkit materials have been available on the Brown HRPP website, along with training resources and a dedicated transition course to help researchers prepare.
What is the Brown HRPP Toolkit?
The “Toolkit” refers to the full set of materials used to support the conduct and oversight of human subjects research. It includes SOPs, submission forms, templates, reviewer worksheets, checklists, manuals, and other program resources used by administrators, IRB members, and researchers.
The Toolkit was developed by Huron Consulting Group and adapted to fit our HRPP program. These materials are reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in the regulatory landscape and evolving best practices.
Transition Timeline
March 30 – Transition Begins
Brown’s Toolkit forms and templates should be used for all new submissions in IRBNet.
This marks the start of a five-week transition period.
Forms and templates previously used by CNE for IRB submissions will remain in the IRBNet library for reference only.
These documents will be labeled “Do Not Use” beginning March 30 to avoid confusion.
During the Transition Period (March 30 – May 7)
HRPP will accept forms previously used by CNE only for studies that were already in progress prior to March 30.
May 7 – Compliance Date
Only Brown’s Toolkit forms and templates will be accepted.
Submissions using forms previously used by CNE on or after this date will be returned for correction.
Forms and templates previously used by CNE will be removed from the IRBNet library.
Brown’s toolkit materials become the standard for all submissions.
Note
Brown’s Toolkit Forms and Templates are already available in the IRBNet library alongside the current CNE forms and templates.
Investigators may begin using the Toolkit forms prior to March 30, and we encourage you to explore them in advance of the transition.
What This Means for Researchers
The impact of the transition is primarily limited to submission forms and templates.
New research submissions should use the Toolkit forms and templates.
Active studies will generally only be affected when new submission forms are required (such as for new studies or modifications).
The Toolkit is designed to streamline submissions, resulting in fewer forms and clearer guidance for researchers.
Training & Support
The HRPP Education Center includes several short courses to support Toolkit users:
TLKT-101 – Intro to the HRPP Toolkit & Investigator Manual (20 min)
TLKT-210 – Protocol Templates & Vulnerable Populations (25 min)
TLKT-220 – Informed Consent (25 min)
TLKT-300 – Guidance for Researchers: Transition to the Brown HRPP Toolkit (15 min)
Additional resources include a CNE Toolkit Crosswalk outlining which documents will be archived and which should be used moving forward.
HRPP staff have also reserved dedicated support time for researchers. Appointments can be scheduled through the HRPP Booking Calendar.
We encourage anyone who has not yet reviewed the Toolkit materials to take some time to familiarize yourself with the resources now. For more detailed information about this transition, please see the HRPP Alignment page on the Brown HRPP website. The HRPP team remains available to support researchers throughout the transition and looks forward to continuing to work together toward a more streamlined and aligned review process.
Thank You
These updates are possible because of your engagement, adaptability, and collaboration. We are grateful to the research community and our IRB members for your continued partnership as we move toward a fully aligned 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.
