Why have I received a resubmission request?
A resubmission request means that the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) has reviewed your application and requires further information, clarification, or amendments before a decision can be made.
Unlike a request for minor clarification, a resubmission typically involves substantive changes to the application and/or supporting documentation before the Committee can reach a final determination.
The HREC's comments will be provided in a response document to assist you in preparing your revised submission.
Resubmissions are considered at a subsequent HREC meeting. To ensure your resubmission can be included on the agenda, the complete revised application and all supporting documentation must be submitted by the applicable deadline. View upcoming HREC meeting dates and submission deadlines here.
What do I need to submit?
A complete resubmission should include:
- Updated HREA.
- New HREA ZIP folder.
- New HREA OMNI file.
- Response to committee comments.
- Tracked-changes version of all revised documents.
- Clean version of all revised documents.
- Any new supporting documentation requested by the committee.
Important: Failure to provide all required documents, including tracked and clean versions of revised documents, may delay reviewing of your resubmission.
Resubmission process
-
Step 1: Review the committee feedback
You will receive a letter with a document containing the Committee's comments. Please address each of the committee’s comments separately using the response template provided.
For example:
Committee comment Researcher response Please provide further information regarding participant recruitment procedures. Additional information has been added to Section 3.2 of the protocol and Question 3.3 of the HREA application. The revised text now outlines participant identification, screening and recruitment procedures. Responses should:
- Address every committee comment.
- Clearly explain what changes have been made.
- Reference the relevant document and section number.
- Provide a clear justification where no amendments have been made.
Providing a clear point-by-point response assists reviewers to efficiently assess your resubmission.
-
Step 2: Update your HREA
Many resubmissions require amendments to information contained within the HREA. Where changes have been made to the HREA:
Log in to the HREA system (refer to the HREA Help Guide for assistance).
Update the relevant sections of the application.
Save all amendments.
Download a new:
- HREA ZIP folder.
- HREA OMNI file.
These updated files must be included in your resubmission package.
-
Step 3: Review supporting documents
Review all supporting documents and make the required amendments. Examples may include:
- Protocol
- Participant information sheet and consent form
- Recruitment materials
- Surveys or questionnaires
- Interview guides
- Data collection tools
- Site approval documents
Ensure all revised documents reflect the amendments described in your response to committee comments.
-
Step 4: Prepare tracked and clean versions
For every document that has been amended, provide a:
- Tracked changes version: A version showing all modifications made since the previous submission.
- Clean version: A version with all tracked changes accepted and comments removed.
This enables reviewers to quickly identify amendments and assess whether Committee concerns have been adequately addressed. Where multiple documents are being updated, please create a ZIP folder.
Document naming requirements.
All revised documents should clearly display:
- Document name
- Version number
- Version date
For example: HREA ID#_Participant Information Sheet_v2_01Jul2026.docx
-
Submitting your resubmission
Email your resubmission package to: [email protected].
Include:
- Committee response document: A completed point-by-point response addressing every committee comment.
- Revised documents. For each amended document, include:
- Tracked changes version.
- Clean version.
- Updated HREA ZIP folder and OMNI file.
- Any additional supporting documents requested by the committee.
Before you submit
Please ensure you have included:
- Point-by-point response document addressing all committee comments.
- Tracked changes version of every revised document.
- Clean version of every revised document.
- Updated version numbers and dates on all revised documents.
- New HREA ZIP folder.
- New HREA OMNI file.
- Any additional documentation requested by the committee.
- All files clearly labelled.
-
After submission
Upon receipt, your resubmission will be assessed to determine whether the committee's requirements have been satisfactorily addressed. To facilitate consideration at the next scheduled HREC meeting, resubmissions must be received by the deadline specified in the outcome letter. Resubmissions received after this date may be deferred to a later meeting. Applicants are encouraged to consult the HREC meeting schedule for submission deadlines and meeting dates.
The research ethics office will contact you if further information or clarification is required.
Important reminder: You must not commence any research activities associated with the project unless and until you have received formal written ethical approval from the Bond University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).