// RESEARCHERS

Launching a study

After screening is complete, the launch process involves two confirmation steps before the study begins and participants start receiving milestones.

After screening

Once you have approved your cohort, the launch process involves these steps before the study begins.

Step 1 — Close screening

Click "Close screening and proceed" to stop accepting new applications. This changes the study status from screening to the next phase.

Step 2 — Funding hold

Before launching, you are asked to confirm that your payout pool is funded. The platform displays:

• —Total payout obligation: reward per participant × number of approved participants
• —Platform fee estimate
• —Confirmation button

This step ensures that funds are committed before participants begin the protocol. Full payment rail implementation is evolving, but the state model supports this phase from the start.

Step 3 — Send onboarding message

Before launching, you draft an onboarding message for approved participants. This message is sent through BIOME from hello@biome.to (not from your personal email). You define:

• —Subject line
• —Message body
• —Enrollment or handoff link (must be HTTPS)

Participants see this message in their dashboard when they are accepted. A copy is sent to your email.

Step 4 — Commence study

Clicking "Launch study" will:

• —Change the study status to Active
• —Generate milestones for all enrolled participants with due dates calculated from the launch date
• —Notify all participants that the study has begun
• —Begin the compliance tracking period