The Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) has confirmed dates for a planned upgrade to its online IRB submission platform, ETHOS (Ethical Oversight Submission System). ETHOS will go offline Friday, October 6 at 5 p.m., and will be down until Monday, October 16 at 7:00 a.m. Please note that this downtime start is one business day earlier than previously anticipated.
Most of the changes will affect the “look and feel” of ETHOS and will not require additional training for the majority of users. However, studies that are reviewed by external IRBs will undergo substantial changes to functionality and organization. Detailed information and resources related to these changes will be provided to PIs and study team members who conduct research reviewed by external IRBs.
HRPP staff will provide walkthroughs of the new environment during regularly scheduled and newly added Lunch and Learn sessions, Wed., Sept. 6, 13, 20, and 27, 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. (sign up to receive calendar invitations) as well as during the next ETHOS learning lab time, Thurs., Sept. 14, 12:00-12:45 p.m. (no registration required, join via this link). All ETHOS users are invited to attend these sessions.
Key resources will be available during the downtime, such as a Qualtrics form for certain Reports of New Information (RNIs). IRB leadership will also have access to read-only information contained in ETHOS at the time it is taken offline, in case needed for urgent/emergency needs.
The HRPP recommends that study teams print and/or download approved consent forms or other participant facing materials prior to the scheduled downtime for use offline.
More resources and recommendations for preparing for the downtime are provided on the ETHOS Upgrade 2023 webpage. Please check the webpage regularly for updates.
Questions? Please contact ethosirb@umn.edu.