#  Mid-October ESTR Upgrades 

 





October 19, 2015

 

 

In mid-October, ESTR was upgraded. Overall, Faculty and Staff will observe minimal changes to the current ESTR experience. The main new features are ([click here to view more detailed release notes](/file_url/213)):

- **Submitting**
- The PI will submit new studies directly to the IRB, as usual; however any required reviews by Faculty Sponsors and/or Department Chairs will occur in parallel with the IRB review rather than as an additional submission step.
- A PI with an approved study may designate one or more proxy who can submit modifications and continuing reviews for that study on the PI’s behalf.

- **Communicating**
- A new comment/notification process will provide an efficient alternative to emails among study staff (e.g., a coordinator can notify the PI within ESTR that an application is ready to submit) and between study staff and the IRB.
- Study staff members who wish to make changes after submitting can themselves transition the submission back to an editable state, rather than wait for the IRB.

- **Streamlining/Clarification**
- Unnecessary questions have been removed from the SmartForm, notably for requests to cede review and for continuing review.
- Forms, templates, questions, and attachment prompts have been reworded and rearranged.


Changes to the system will not alter any IRB policies or the human subjects research application requirements.  
  
During the upgrade, users with a submission that is actively being reviewed may be required to supply additional information.

Please contact the [ESTR Help Desk](mailto:estrhelp@harvard.edu) with any questions or concerns.



 

 

 



 

 

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