IRB submissions are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have a time-sensitive submission, please contact your IRB Review Specialist prior to submitting; the IRB will do their best to accommodate your request. Additionally, please inform the IRB of any deadlines or time constraints within the ESTR submission (via a Comment, cover letter, etc).
Expedited Review is performed when the human research poses no greater than minimal risk and the research procedures fit into one or more of the federally defined Expedited Review categories. Expedited Review is performed “in-house” by one or more designated reviewers on a rolling basis; review by the convened IRB is not required. Expedited continuing review applications should be submitted 21 days prior to the study’s expiration date. To find out whether your human research is eligible for expedited review, please contact your IRB Review Specialist.
Convened IRB or “Full Board” Review occurs monthly. The Office of Human Research Administration supports two IRB panels: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Faculty of Medicine. In general, investigators can expect to have the IRB associated with their primary appointment perform IRB review. Cross-panel review, however, may occur if the alternate IRB’s composition is better suited to review the proposed Human Research. Applications and related study materials must be submitted by the noted “Submission Deadline” for consideration at the corresponding meeting. Assignment to an agenda is not automatic and may vary depending on the quality and completeness of the submission, complexity of the project, required ancillary reviews, responsiveness of the PI to clarifications requested from the IRB review specialist, and attaining quorum at the monthly meeting.
| Harvard Chan School IRB Meeting Dates (Wednesdays, 10:30AM-12:30PM) | Harvard Chan School Submission Deadlines |
| December 4, 2024 | November 13, 2024 |
| January 8,2025 | December 18, 2024 |
| February 5, 2025 | January 15, 2025 |
| March 5, 2025 | February 12, 2025 |
| April 2, 2025 | March 12, 2025 |
| May 7, 2025 | April 16, 2025 |
| June 4, 2025 | April 14, 2025 |
| July 9, 2025 | June 18, 2025 |
| August 6, 2025 | July 16, 2025 |
| September 3, 2025 | August 13, 2025 |
| October 1, 2025 | September 10, 2025 |
| November 5, 2025 | October 15, 2025 |
| December 3, 2025 | November 12, 2025 |
| HMS/HSDM IRB Meeting Dates (Tuesdays, 4-6PM) | HMS/HSDM Submission Deadlines |
| December 17, 2024 | November 26, 2024 |
| January 28, 2025 | January 7, 2025 |
| February 25, 2025 | February 4, 2025 |
| March 25, 2025 | March 4, 2025 |
| April 29, 2025 | April 8, 2025 |
| May 27, 2025 | May 6, 2025 |
| June 24, 2025 | June 3, 2025 |
| July 29, 2025 | July 8, 2025 |
| August 26, 2025 | August 5, 2025 |
| September 30, 2025 | September 9, 2025 |
| October 28, 2025 | October 7, 2025 |
| November 18, 2025 | October 28, 2025 |
| December 16, 2025 | November 25, 2025 |
