eIRB

The Penn eIRB system is targeted to replace HSERA as the new IRB online submission system on February 9, 2026. This page is intended to be a central hub for communications about eIRB launch, including town halls with Q&A, training sessions, and written reference materials for the new system. This page will continue to be updated as more information is released.

The IRB will launch a new system, Penn eIRB, to replace HSERA on February 9, 2026. Please review this announcement about important dates that may affect your ability to submit to the IRB. 
 
This change in systems will make necessary upgrades for compliance requirements and provide a more user-friendly, efficient review experience. 

 

Future written communications and town halls will provide critical information about migration of existing paper and HSERA protocols to the new system. Faculty and research staff attendance at town halls is strongly recommended to ensure awareness, provide feedback, and ensure a smooth transition.

 

 

Launch Timeline

Education

Education sessions involve live demonstrations of eIRB functionality. Demos took place in October 2025 and were recorded for retrospective viewing. These recordings are linked below.

 

eIRB 101 sessions are currently scheduled for January through March 2026. Click below to sign up.

Live Demo Schedule

Office Hours

Office Hours are planned to be held Monday through Friday from February 9 – February 20, at varying times of the day.

 

After February 20, office hours are planned to be help twice a week for as long as demand continues. A schedule will be posted soon.

Townhalls

Townhalls are open to the entire research community. Townhalls have live Q&A and are recorded for retrospective viewing. Townhalls discuss the transition plan from HSERA to the new system, new policies and procedures being implemented with the new system launch, and improvements built into the new system. See below for recordings of past townhalls.

 

User Testing

 The IRB Office held UAT session(s) with various stakeholder groups over Zoom and in-person in November 2025.

Recorded Sessions

 

Recordings of previously held Townhall Informational Sessions are linked below. NOTE: Some of these recordings utilize the prior name of the new system, Human Research Application Portal (HRAP). 

 

 

Sep 10, 2025

Penn eIRB Update and Q & A Townhall

Recording

Sep 18, 2025

eIRB Protocol Migration QA Guide Townhall 

Recording

Sep 25, 2025

eIRB: Review of Related Policy Changes Townhall

Recording

Oct 1, 2025

eIRB Demo for Research Staff, Part 1

 

You must log into Zoom to watch. 

Passcode: 10ERX2e!

Recording

Oct 8, 2025

eIRB Demo for Research Staff, Part 2

 

You must log into Zoom to watch. 

Passcode: 0jT1Rd^5

Recording

Oct 16, 2025

eIRB Demo for IRB Members & Chairs

 

You must log into Zoom to watch. 

Passcode: xf^e@0Xu

RECORDING

Jan 22, 2026

eIRB Update Townhall

RECORDING

Written Resources

New System Improvements

This presentation discusses the following design improvements in eIRB, compared to HSERA: 

  • Efficiency of submitting 
  • Transparency around the review processes
  • Improved tracking of submissions
  • Planned integrations with other Penn systems

Click for Slides

Pre-2019 Exempt Study Transition

Study records for human research reviewed at the exempt level in 2018 or earlier with a “No Continuing Review Required” status are not planned to be migrated to eIRB from HSERA. If researchers wish these studies with a “No Continuing Review Required” status to be migrated to  eIRB, they should complete this Qualtrics Form by January 12, 2026. For more details click the link below.

Click for Guidance

Penn eIRB Update

Click below for slides from the September 10, 2025 Townhall, which covered: 

  • Launch Timeline & Planned Interactive Sessions
  • Townhall Schedule
  • Live Demo Schedule
  • Important Deadlines

Click for Slides

eIRB Protocol Migration QA Guide

Click below for slides from the September 18, 2025 Townhall which covered:

  • What quality assurance research staff should complete during the first submission of a migrated study in eIRB.

Click for Slides

eIRB: Review of Related Policy Changes

Click below for slides from the September 25, 2025 Townhall, which covered: 

  • New Policy Implementation around: 
    • Annual Check-In
    • Automatic Closures
    • Study Archiving
  • Migration Plan

Click for slides

eIRB Migrated Studies QA Guide Supplement

This supplement details what fields from Penn ERA (Paper Protocols) and HSERA will migrate to eIRB.

Click for Guide

January 2026 eIRB Update

Slides from the January 22, 2026 Townhall

Click for Slides

Access to eIRB

Backend System Access

Request Here

Department Routing

Not yet available

Data Reporting

Not yet available

eIRB Frequently Asked Questions

Click Here for FAQs Additional Questions? Email the IRB