Study Closure Guidance

Dear Research Community,

The IRB has new guidance on when a study may be closed (that is, no longer requires IRB oversight). Although many minimal risk studies no longer require continuing review (unless the study is FDA-regulated), all non-exempt human research studies must still be closed in the eIRB+ system when they no longer require IRB oversight. This means that, even if you do not have to submit annual continuing review for your study, you should submit a request to close the study when the circumstances are appropriate for study closure. To close a study in eIRB+, you need to submit a Continuing Review application but indicate that you are requesting study closure by checking off the first four boxes in the “Research Milestones” section of the application.

The guidance document on study closure can be found on the Policies page of the IRB website.

Thank you,

The Northwestern University IRB Office