The Information Sheet for Research Participants (IRP, in Dutch: Informatiebrief voor Onderzoeksdeelnemers, IVO) can be used from 1 June when submitting medical research. The IRP template will be available from 27 May via the CCMO website.
On Wednesday 27 May, Minister Sophie Hermans of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport will receive the first official copy from one of the language ambassadors who contributed to its creation. The IRP for adults is available in Dutch and English, but in the Netherlands the IRP may only be submitted in Dutch. Submissions can be made from Monday 1 June 2026.
SIS-IRP transition period
The IRP replaces the Subject Information Sheet (SIS, in Dutch: Proefpersoneninformatieformulier, PIF). The SIS template may still be used until 1 January 2027.
The period from 1 June to 1 November 2026 will be used to collect comments and suggestions for improving the IRP. Relevant adjustments will be processed between 1 November and 31 December 2026.
IRP mandatory from 1 January 2027
From 1 January, the use of the IRP template will be mandatory. The SIS may no longer be submitted after that date.
For studies approved before 1 January 2027 based on the SIS, an IRP does not need to be submitted retroactively, even if changes need to be made to the SIS.
What is still to come?
There is no IRP (yet) for children under the age of 16. Work on this document will be carried out in the coming period. A template for submitting amendments and a template for an IRP for pregnant women will also follow later. For children, the current templates can be used: a simplified template for children up to 12 years of age and the SIS for children aged 12 to 16.
Getting to know the IRP
On 27 May, a Q&A page containing information about the IRP will become available on the CCMO website. This will be continuously updated as needed.
Online training sessions for applicants/researchers will be held on 26 May and on 4 and 16 June. During these sessions, the IRP will be explained, and you will receive instructions on how to draft and submit the document. More information and participation links can be found here: Online training sessions Information sheet IRP (in Dutch).