diff --git a/src/app/app.component.ts b/src/app/app.component.ts
index cdf45f50a86..b87073c034f 100644
--- a/src/app/app.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/app.component.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import {
   Observable,
 } from 'rxjs';
 import {
+  delay,
   distinctUntilChanged,
   take,
   withLatestFrom,
@@ -136,7 +137,10 @@ export class AppComponent implements OnInit, AfterViewInit {
   }
 
   ngAfterViewInit() {
-    this.router.events.subscribe((event) => {
+    this.router.events.pipe(
+      // delay(0) to prevent "Expression has changed after it was checked" errors
+      delay(0),
+    ).subscribe((event) => {
       if (event instanceof NavigationStart) {
         distinctNext(this.isRouteLoading$, true);
       } else if (
diff --git a/src/app/core/data/object-updates/object-updates.reducer.ts b/src/app/core/data/object-updates/object-updates.reducer.ts
index e014889850c..cadae9ae838 100644
--- a/src/app/core/data/object-updates/object-updates.reducer.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/data/object-updates/object-updates.reducer.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ export interface VirtualMetadataSource {
 
 export interface RelationshipIdentifiable extends Identifiable {
   nameVariant?: string;
+  originalItem: Item;
+  originalIsLeft: boolean
   relatedItem: Item;
   relationship: Relationship;
   type: RelationshipType;
diff --git a/src/app/core/data/object-updates/object-updates.service.ts b/src/app/core/data/object-updates/object-updates.service.ts
index 1f036ddfb1d..75b554d87b1 100644
--- a/src/app/core/data/object-updates/object-updates.service.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/data/object-updates/object-updates.service.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   filter,
   map,
   switchMap,
+  take,
 } from 'rxjs/operators';
 
 import {
@@ -212,8 +213,14 @@ export class ObjectUpdatesService {
    * @param url The page's URL for which the changes are saved
    * @param field An updated field for the page's object
    */
-  saveAddFieldUpdate(url: string, field: Identifiable) {
+  saveAddFieldUpdate(url: string, field: Identifiable): Observable<boolean> {
+    const update$: Observable<boolean> = this.getFieldUpdatesExclusive(url, [field]).pipe(
+      filter((fieldUpdates: FieldUpdates) => fieldUpdates[field.uuid].changeType === FieldChangeType.ADD),
+      take(1),
+      map(() => true),
+    );
     this.saveFieldUpdate(url, field, FieldChangeType.ADD);
+    return update$;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -221,8 +228,14 @@ export class ObjectUpdatesService {
    * @param url The page's URL for which the changes are saved
    * @param field An updated field for the page's object
    */
-  saveRemoveFieldUpdate(url: string, field: Identifiable) {
+  saveRemoveFieldUpdate(url: string, field: Identifiable): Observable<boolean> {
+    const update$: Observable<boolean> = this.getFieldUpdatesExclusive(url, [field]).pipe(
+      filter((fieldUpdates: FieldUpdates) => fieldUpdates[field.uuid].changeType === FieldChangeType.REMOVE),
+      take(1),
+      map(() => true),
+    );
     this.saveFieldUpdate(url, field, FieldChangeType.REMOVE);
+    return update$;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/app/core/data/relationship-data.service.ts b/src/app/core/data/relationship-data.service.ts
index 17d0fa66342..8514ab3e2ad 100644
--- a/src/app/core/data/relationship-data.service.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/data/relationship-data.service.ts
@@ -155,8 +155,11 @@ export class RelationshipDataService extends IdentifiableDataService<Relationshi
    * @param id                    the ID of the relationship to delete
    * @param copyVirtualMetadata   whether to copy this relationship's virtual metadata to the related Items
    *                              accepted values: none, all, left, right, configured
+   * @param shouldRefresh         refresh the cache for the items in the relationship after creating
+   *                              it. Disable this if you want to add relationships in bulk, and
+   *                              want to refresh the cachemanually at the end
    */
-  deleteRelationship(id: string, copyVirtualMetadata: string): Observable<RemoteData<NoContent>> {
+  deleteRelationship(id: string, copyVirtualMetadata: string, shouldRefresh = true): Observable<RemoteData<NoContent>> {
     return this.getRelationshipEndpoint(id).pipe(
       isNotEmptyOperator(),
       take(1),
@@ -167,7 +170,11 @@ export class RelationshipDataService extends IdentifiableDataService<Relationshi
       sendRequest(this.requestService),
       switchMap((restRequest: RestRequest) => this.rdbService.buildFromRequestUUID(restRequest.uuid)),
       getFirstCompletedRemoteData(),
-      tap(() => this.refreshRelationshipItemsInCacheByRelationship(id)),
+      tap(() => {
+        if (shouldRefresh) {
+          this.refreshRelationshipItemsInCacheByRelationship(id);
+        }
+      }),
     );
   }
 
@@ -178,8 +185,11 @@ export class RelationshipDataService extends IdentifiableDataService<Relationshi
    * @param item2 The second item of the relationship
    * @param leftwardValue The leftward value of the relationship
    * @param rightwardValue The rightward value of the relationship
+   * @param shouldRefresh refresh the cache for the items in the relationship after creating it.
+   *                      Disable this if you want to add relationships in bulk, and want to refresh
+   *                      the cache manually at the end
    */
-  addRelationship(typeId: string, item1: Item, item2: Item, leftwardValue?: string, rightwardValue?: string): Observable<RemoteData<Relationship>> {
+  addRelationship(typeId: string, item1: Item, item2: Item, leftwardValue?: string, rightwardValue?: string, shouldRefresh = true): Observable<RemoteData<Relationship>> {
     const options: HttpOptions = Object.create({});
     let headers = new HttpHeaders();
     headers = headers.append('Content-Type', 'text/uri-list');
@@ -194,8 +204,12 @@ export class RelationshipDataService extends IdentifiableDataService<Relationshi
       sendRequest(this.requestService),
       switchMap((restRequest: RestRequest) => this.rdbService.buildFromRequestUUID(restRequest.uuid)),
       getFirstCompletedRemoteData(),
-      tap(() => this.refreshRelationshipItemsInCache(item1)),
-      tap(() => this.refreshRelationshipItemsInCache(item2)),
+      tap(() => {
+        if (shouldRefresh) {
+          this.refreshRelationshipItemsInCache(item1);
+          this.refreshRelationshipItemsInCache(item2);
+        }
+      }),
     ) as Observable<RemoteData<Relationship>>;
   }
 
@@ -223,7 +237,7 @@ export class RelationshipDataService extends IdentifiableDataService<Relationshi
    * Method to remove an item that's part of a relationship from the cache
    * @param item The item to remove from the cache
    */
-  public refreshRelationshipItemsInCache(item) {
+  public refreshRelationshipItemsInCache(item: Item): void {
     this.objectCache.remove(item._links.self.href);
     this.requestService.removeByHrefSubstring(item.uuid);
     observableCombineLatest([
@@ -336,7 +350,19 @@ export class RelationshipDataService extends IdentifiableDataService<Relationshi
     } else {
       findListOptions.searchParams = searchParams;
     }
-    return this.searchBy('byLabel', findListOptions, useCachedVersionIfAvailable, reRequestOnStale, ...linksToFollow);
+
+    // always set reRequestOnStale to false here, so it doesn't happen automatically in BaseDataService
+    const result$ = this.searchBy('byLabel', findListOptions, useCachedVersionIfAvailable, false, ...linksToFollow);
+
+    // add this result as a dependency of the item, meaning that if the item is invalided, this
+    // result will be as well
+    this.addDependency(result$, item._links.self.href);
+
+    // do the reRequestOnStale call here, to ensure any re-requests also get added as dependencies
+    return result$.pipe(
+      this.reRequestStaleRemoteData(reRequestOnStale, () =>
+        this.getItemRelationshipsByLabel(item, label, options, useCachedVersionIfAvailable, reRequestOnStale, ...linksToFollow)),
+    );
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/abstract-item-update/abstract-item-update.component.ts b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/abstract-item-update/abstract-item-update.component.ts
index 77c3fdaafb6..69b234fbaf7 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/abstract-item-update/abstract-item-update.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/abstract-item-update/abstract-item-update.component.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ export class AbstractItemUpdateComponent extends AbstractTrackableComponent impl
    */
   updates$: Observable<FieldUpdates>;
 
+  hasChanges$: Observable<boolean>;
+
+  isReinstatable$: Observable<boolean>;
+
   /**
    * Route to the item's page
    */
@@ -101,10 +105,9 @@ export class AbstractItemUpdateComponent extends AbstractTrackableComponent impl
     }
 
     this.discardTimeOut = environment.item.edit.undoTimeout;
-    this.url = this.router.url;
-    if (this.url.indexOf('?') > 0) {
-      this.url = this.url.substr(0, this.url.indexOf('?'));
-    }
+    this.url = this.router.url.split('?')[0];
+    this.hasChanges$ = this.hasChanges();
+    this.isReinstatable$ = this.isReinstatable();
     this.hasChanges().pipe(first()).subscribe((hasChanges) => {
       if (!hasChanges) {
         this.initializeOriginalFields();
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-bitstreams/item-bitstreams.component.html b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-bitstreams/item-bitstreams.component.html
index bb0c3e37602..88d984c19f1 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-bitstreams/item-bitstreams.component.html
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-bitstreams/item-bitstreams.component.html
@@ -6,21 +6,21 @@
             class="fas fa-upload"></i>
       <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.bitstreams.upload-button" | translate}}</span>
     </button>
-    <button class="btn btn-warning" *ngIf="isReinstatable() | async"
+    <button class="btn btn-warning" *ngIf="isReinstatable$ | async"
             [attr.aria-label]="'item.edit.bitstreams.reinstate-button' | translate"
             (click)="reinstate()"><i
             class="fas fa-undo-alt"></i>
       <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.bitstreams.reinstate-button" | translate}}</span>
     </button>
-    <button class="btn btn-primary" [disabled]="(hasChanges() | async) !== true || submitting"
+    <button class="btn btn-primary" [disabled]="(hasChanges$ | async) !== true || submitting"
             [attr.aria-label]="'item.edit.bitstreams.save-button' | translate"
             (click)="submit()"><i
             class="fas fa-save"></i>
       <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.bitstreams.save-button" | translate}}</span>
     </button>
-    <button class="btn btn-danger" *ngIf="(isReinstatable() | async) !== true"
+    <button class="btn btn-danger" *ngIf="(isReinstatable$ | async) !== true"
             [attr.aria-label]="'item.edit.bitstreams.discard-button' | translate"
-            [disabled]="(hasChanges() | async) !== true || submitting"
+            [disabled]="(hasChanges$ | async) !== true || submitting"
             (click)="discard()"><i
             class="fas fa-times"></i>
       <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.bitstreams.discard-button" | translate}}</span>
@@ -52,21 +52,21 @@
 
   <div class="button-row bottom">
     <div class="mt-4 float-right space-children-mr ml-gap">
-      <button class="btn btn-warning" *ngIf="isReinstatable() | async"
+      <button class="btn btn-warning" *ngIf="isReinstatable$ | async"
               [attr.aria-label]="'item.edit.bitstreams.reinstate-button' | translate"
               (click)="reinstate()"><i
         class="fas fa-undo-alt"></i>
         <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.bitstreams.reinstate-button" | translate}}</span>
       </button>
-      <button class="btn btn-primary" [disabled]="(hasChanges() | async) !== true || submitting"
+      <button class="btn btn-primary" [disabled]="(hasChanges$ | async) !== true || submitting"
               [attr.aria-label]="'item.edit.bitstreams.save-button' | translate"
               (click)="submit()"><i
         class="fas fa-save"></i>
         <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.bitstreams.save-button" | translate}}</span>
       </button>
-      <button class="btn btn-danger" *ngIf="(isReinstatable() | async) !== true"
+      <button class="btn btn-danger" *ngIf="(isReinstatable$ | async) !== true"
               [attr.aria-label]="'item.edit.bitstreams.discard-button' | translate"
-              [disabled]="(hasChanges() | async) !== true || submitting"
+              [disabled]="(hasChanges$ | async) !== true || submitting"
               (click)="discard()"><i
         class="fas fa-times"></i>
         <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.bitstreams.discard-button" | translate}}</span>
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-item-relationships.service.spec.ts b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-item-relationships.service.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f9694167838
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-item-relationships.service.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,301 @@
+import { TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
+import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
+import { of as observableOf } from 'rxjs';
+import { v4 as uuidv4 } from 'uuid';
+
+import { EntityTypeDataService } from '../../../core/data/entity-type-data.service';
+import { ItemDataService } from '../../../core/data/item-data.service';
+import { FieldChangeType } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/field-change-type.model';
+import { FieldUpdate } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/field-update.model';
+import { FieldUpdates } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/field-updates.model';
+import {
+  DeleteRelationship,
+  RelationshipIdentifiable,
+} from '../../../core/data/object-updates/object-updates.reducer';
+import { ObjectUpdatesService } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/object-updates.service';
+import { RelationshipDataService } from '../../../core/data/relationship-data.service';
+import { Item } from '../../../core/shared/item.model';
+import { ItemType } from '../../../core/shared/item-relationships/item-type.model';
+import { Relationship } from '../../../core/shared/item-relationships/relationship.model';
+import { RelationshipType } from '../../../core/shared/item-relationships/relationship-type.model';
+import { NotificationsService } from '../../../shared/notifications/notifications.service';
+import {
+  createFailedRemoteDataObject,
+  createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject,
+  createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$,
+} from '../../../shared/remote-data.utils';
+import { EntityTypeDataServiceStub } from '../../../shared/testing/entity-type-data.service.stub';
+import { ItemDataServiceStub } from '../../../shared/testing/item-data.service.stub';
+import { NotificationsServiceStub } from '../../../shared/testing/notifications-service.stub';
+import { ObjectUpdatesServiceStub } from '../../../shared/testing/object-updates.service.stub';
+import { RelationshipDataServiceStub } from '../../../shared/testing/relationship-data.service.stub';
+import { EditItemRelationshipsService } from './edit-item-relationships.service';
+
+describe('EditItemRelationshipsService', () => {
+  let service: EditItemRelationshipsService;
+
+  let itemService: ItemDataServiceStub;
+  let objectUpdatesService: ObjectUpdatesServiceStub;
+  let notificationsService: NotificationsServiceStub;
+  let relationshipService: RelationshipDataServiceStub;
+  let entityTypeDataService: EntityTypeDataServiceStub;
+
+  let currentItem: Item;
+
+  let relationshipItem1: Item;
+  let relationshipIdentifiable1: RelationshipIdentifiable;
+  let relationship1: Relationship;
+
+  let relationshipItem2: Item;
+  let relationshipIdentifiable2: RelationshipIdentifiable;
+  let relationship2: Relationship;
+
+  let orgUnitType: ItemType;
+  let orgUnitToOrgUnitType: RelationshipType;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    itemService = new ItemDataServiceStub();
+    objectUpdatesService = new ObjectUpdatesServiceStub();
+    notificationsService = new NotificationsServiceStub();
+    relationshipService = new RelationshipDataServiceStub();
+    entityTypeDataService = new EntityTypeDataServiceStub();
+
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+      imports: [
+        TranslateModule.forRoot(),
+      ],
+      providers: [
+        { provide: ItemDataService, useValue: itemService },
+        { provide: ObjectUpdatesService, useValue: objectUpdatesService },
+        { provide: NotificationsService, useValue: notificationsService },
+        { provide: RelationshipDataService, useValue: relationshipService },
+        { provide: EntityTypeDataService, useValue: entityTypeDataService },
+      ],
+    });
+    service = TestBed.inject(EditItemRelationshipsService);
+  });
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    currentItem = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+      uuid: uuidv4(),
+      metadata: {
+        'dspace.entity.type': 'OrgUnit',
+      },
+      _links: {
+        self: {
+          href: 'selfLink1',
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    relationshipItem1 = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+      uuid: uuidv4(),
+      metadata: {
+        'dspace.entity.type': 'OrgUnit',
+      },
+      _links: {
+        self: {
+          href: 'selfLink2',
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    relationshipIdentifiable1 = {
+      originalItem: currentItem,
+      relatedItem: relationshipItem1,
+      type: orgUnitToOrgUnitType,
+      uuid: `1-${relationshipItem1.uuid}`,
+    } as RelationshipIdentifiable;
+    relationship1 = Object.assign(new Relationship(), {
+      _links: {
+        leftItem: currentItem._links.self,
+        rightItem: relationshipItem1._links.self,
+      },
+    });
+
+    relationshipItem2 = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+      uuid: uuidv4(),
+      metadata: {
+        'dspace.entity.type': 'OrgUnit',
+      },
+      _links: {
+        self: {
+          href: 'selfLink3',
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    relationshipIdentifiable2 = {
+      originalItem: currentItem,
+      relatedItem: relationshipItem2,
+      type: orgUnitToOrgUnitType,
+      uuid: `1-${relationshipItem2.uuid}`,
+    } as RelationshipIdentifiable;
+    relationship2 = Object.assign(new Relationship(), {
+      _links: {
+        leftItem: currentItem._links.self,
+        rightItem: relationshipItem2._links.self,
+      },
+    });
+
+    orgUnitType = Object.assign(new ItemType(), {
+      id: '2',
+      label: 'OrgUnit',
+    });
+    orgUnitToOrgUnitType = Object.assign(new RelationshipType(), {
+      id: '1',
+      leftMaxCardinality: null,
+      leftMinCardinality: 0,
+      leftType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(orgUnitType),
+      leftwardType: 'isOrgUnitOfOrgUnit',
+      rightMaxCardinality: null,
+      rightMinCardinality: 0,
+      rightType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(orgUnitType),
+      rightwardType: 'isOrgUnitOfOrgUnit',
+      uuid: 'relationshiptype-1',
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('submit', () => {
+    let fieldUpdateAddRelationship1: FieldUpdate;
+    let fieldUpdateRemoveRelationship2: FieldUpdate;
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      fieldUpdateAddRelationship1 = {
+        changeType: FieldChangeType.ADD,
+        field: relationshipIdentifiable1,
+      };
+      fieldUpdateRemoveRelationship2 = {
+        changeType: FieldChangeType.REMOVE,
+        field: relationshipIdentifiable2,
+      };
+
+      spyOn(service, 'addRelationship').withArgs(relationshipIdentifiable1).and.returnValue(createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(relationship1));
+      spyOn(service, 'deleteRelationship').withArgs(relationshipIdentifiable2 as DeleteRelationship).and.returnValue(createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$({}));
+      spyOn(itemService, 'invalidateByHref').and.callThrough();
+    });
+
+    it('should support performing multiple relationships manipulations in one submit() call', () => {
+      spyOn(objectUpdatesService, 'getFieldUpdates').and.returnValue(observableOf({
+        [`1-${relationshipItem1.uuid}`]: fieldUpdateAddRelationship1,
+        [`1-${relationshipItem2.uuid}`]: fieldUpdateRemoveRelationship2,
+      } as FieldUpdates));
+      service.submit(currentItem, `/entities/orgunit/${currentItem.uuid}/edit/relationships`);
+
+      expect(service.addRelationship).toHaveBeenCalledWith(relationshipIdentifiable1);
+      expect(service.deleteRelationship).toHaveBeenCalledWith(relationshipIdentifiable2 as DeleteRelationship);
+
+      expect(itemService.invalidateByHref).toHaveBeenCalledWith(currentItem.self);
+      expect(itemService.invalidateByHref).toHaveBeenCalledWith(relationshipItem1.self);
+
+      expect(notificationsService.success).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('deleteRelationship', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      spyOn(relationshipService, 'deleteRelationship').and.callThrough();
+    });
+
+    it('should pass "all" as copyVirtualMetadata when the user want to keep the data on both sides', () => {
+      service.deleteRelationship({
+        uuid: relationshipItem1.uuid,
+        keepLeftVirtualMetadata: true,
+        keepRightVirtualMetadata: true,
+      } as DeleteRelationship);
+
+      expect(relationshipService.deleteRelationship).toHaveBeenCalledWith(relationshipItem1.uuid, 'all', false);
+    });
+
+    it('should pass "left" as copyVirtualMetadata when the user only want to keep the data on the left side', () => {
+      service.deleteRelationship({
+        uuid: relationshipItem1.uuid,
+        keepLeftVirtualMetadata: true,
+        keepRightVirtualMetadata: false,
+      } as DeleteRelationship);
+
+      expect(relationshipService.deleteRelationship).toHaveBeenCalledWith(relationshipItem1.uuid, 'left', false);
+    });
+
+    it('should pass "right" as copyVirtualMetadata when the user only want to keep the data on the right side', () => {
+      service.deleteRelationship({
+        uuid: relationshipItem1.uuid,
+        keepLeftVirtualMetadata: false,
+        keepRightVirtualMetadata: true,
+      } as DeleteRelationship);
+
+      expect(relationshipService.deleteRelationship).toHaveBeenCalledWith(relationshipItem1.uuid, 'right', false);
+    });
+
+    it('should pass "none" as copyVirtualMetadata when the user doesn\'t want to keep the virtual metadata', () => {
+      service.deleteRelationship({
+        uuid: relationshipItem1.uuid,
+        keepLeftVirtualMetadata: false,
+        keepRightVirtualMetadata: false,
+      } as DeleteRelationship);
+
+      expect(relationshipService.deleteRelationship).toHaveBeenCalledWith(relationshipItem1.uuid, 'none', false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('addRelationship', () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      spyOn(relationshipService, 'addRelationship').and.callThrough();
+    });
+
+    it('should call the addRelationship from relationshipService correctly when original item is on the right', () => {
+      service.addRelationship({
+        originalItem: currentItem,
+        originalIsLeft: false,
+        relatedItem: relationshipItem1,
+        type: orgUnitToOrgUnitType,
+        uuid: `1-${relationshipItem1.uuid}`,
+      } as RelationshipIdentifiable);
+      expect(relationshipService.addRelationship).toHaveBeenCalledWith(orgUnitToOrgUnitType.id, relationshipItem1, currentItem, undefined, null, false);
+    });
+
+    it('should call the addRelationship from relationshipService correctly when original item is on the left', () => {
+      service.addRelationship({
+        originalItem: currentItem,
+        originalIsLeft: true,
+        relatedItem: relationshipItem1,
+        type: orgUnitToOrgUnitType,
+        uuid: `1-${relationshipItem1.uuid}`,
+      } as RelationshipIdentifiable);
+
+      expect(relationshipService.addRelationship).toHaveBeenCalledWith(orgUnitToOrgUnitType.id, currentItem, relationshipItem1, null, undefined, false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('displayNotifications', () => {
+    it('should show one success notification when multiple requests succeeded', () => {
+      service.displayNotifications([
+        createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject({}),
+        createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject({}),
+      ]);
+
+      expect(notificationsService.success).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+
+    it('should show one success notification even when some requests failed', () => {
+      service.displayNotifications([
+        createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject({}),
+        createFailedRemoteDataObject('Request Failed'),
+        createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject({}),
+      ]);
+
+      expect(notificationsService.success).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(notificationsService.error).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+
+    it('should show a separate error notification for each failed request', () => {
+      service.displayNotifications([
+        createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject({}),
+        createFailedRemoteDataObject('Request Failed 1'),
+        createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject({}),
+        createFailedRemoteDataObject('Request Failed 2'),
+      ]);
+
+      expect(notificationsService.success).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(notificationsService.error).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-item-relationships.service.ts b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-item-relationships.service.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..14fa226bf41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-item-relationships.service.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
+import { NgbModal } from '@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap';
+import { TranslateService } from '@ngx-translate/core';
+import {
+  BehaviorSubject,
+  EMPTY,
+  Observable,
+  Subscription,
+} from 'rxjs';
+import {
+  concatMap,
+  map,
+  switchMap,
+  take,
+  toArray,
+} from 'rxjs/operators';
+
+import { EntityTypeDataService } from '../../../core/data/entity-type-data.service';
+import { ItemDataService } from '../../../core/data/item-data.service';
+import { FieldChangeType } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/field-change-type.model';
+import { FieldUpdate } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/field-update.model';
+import { FieldUpdates } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/field-updates.model';
+import {
+  DeleteRelationship,
+  RelationshipIdentifiable,
+} from '../../../core/data/object-updates/object-updates.reducer';
+import { ObjectUpdatesService } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/object-updates.service';
+import { RelationshipDataService } from '../../../core/data/relationship-data.service';
+import { RemoteData } from '../../../core/data/remote-data';
+import { Item } from '../../../core/shared/item.model';
+import { Relationship } from '../../../core/shared/item-relationships/relationship.model';
+import { NoContent } from '../../../core/shared/NoContent.model';
+import { hasValue } from '../../../shared/empty.util';
+import { NotificationsService } from '../../../shared/notifications/notifications.service';
+
+@Injectable({
+  providedIn: 'root',
+})
+export class EditItemRelationshipsService {
+  public notificationsPrefix = 'item.edit.relationships.notifications.';
+
+  public isSaving$: BehaviorSubject<boolean> = new BehaviorSubject(false);
+
+  constructor(
+    public itemService: ItemDataService,
+    public objectUpdatesService: ObjectUpdatesService,
+    public notificationsService: NotificationsService,
+    protected modalService: NgbModal,
+    public relationshipService: RelationshipDataService,
+    public entityTypeService: EntityTypeDataService,
+    public translateService: TranslateService,
+  ) { }
+
+
+  /**
+   * Resolve the currently selected related items back to relationships and send a delete request for each of the relationships found
+   * Make sure the lists are refreshed afterwards and notifications are sent for success and errors
+   */
+  public submit(item: Item, url: string): void {
+    this.isSaving$.next(true);
+    this.objectUpdatesService.getFieldUpdates(url, [], true).pipe(
+      map((fieldUpdates: FieldUpdates) =>
+        Object.values(fieldUpdates)
+          .filter((fieldUpdate: FieldUpdate) => hasValue(fieldUpdate))
+          .filter((fieldUpdate: FieldUpdate) => fieldUpdate.changeType === FieldChangeType.ADD || fieldUpdate.changeType === FieldChangeType.REMOVE),
+      ),
+      take(1),
+      // emit each update in the array separately
+      switchMap((updates) => updates),
+      // process each update one by one, while waiting for the previous to finish
+      concatMap((update: FieldUpdate) => {
+        if (update.changeType === FieldChangeType.REMOVE) {
+          return this.deleteRelationship(update.field as DeleteRelationship).pipe(take(1));
+        } else if (update.changeType === FieldChangeType.ADD) {
+          return this.addRelationship(update.field as RelationshipIdentifiable).pipe(
+            take(1),
+            switchMap((relationshipRD: RemoteData<Relationship>) => {
+              if (relationshipRD.hasSucceeded) {
+                // Set the newly related item to stale, so its relationships will update to include
+                // the new one. Only set the current item to stale at the very end so we only do it
+                // once
+                const { leftItem, rightItem } = relationshipRD.payload._links;
+                if (leftItem.href === item.self) {
+                  return this.itemService.invalidateByHref(rightItem.href).pipe(
+                    // when it's invalidated, emit the original relationshipRD for use in the pipe below
+                    map(() => relationshipRD),
+                  );
+                } else {
+                  return this.itemService.invalidateByHref(leftItem.href).pipe(
+                    // when it's invalidated, emit the original relationshipRD for use in the pipe below
+                    map(() => relationshipRD),
+                  );
+                }
+              } else {
+                return [relationshipRD];
+              }
+            }),
+          );
+        } else {
+          return EMPTY;
+        }
+      }),
+      toArray(),
+      switchMap((responses) => {
+        // once all relationships are made and all related items have been invalidated, invalidate
+        // the current item
+        return this.itemService.invalidateByHref(item.self).pipe(
+          map(() => responses),
+        );
+      }),
+    ).subscribe((responses) => {
+      if (responses.length > 0) {
+        this.initializeOriginalFields(item, url);
+        this.displayNotifications(responses);
+        this.modalService.dismissAll();
+        this.isSaving$.next(false);
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Sends all initial values of this item to the object updates service
+   */
+  public initializeOriginalFields(item: Item, url: string): Subscription {
+    return this.relationshipService.getRelatedItems(item).pipe(
+      take(1),
+    ).subscribe((items: Item[]) => {
+      this.objectUpdatesService.initialize(url, items, item.lastModified);
+    });
+  }
+
+  deleteRelationship(deleteRelationship: DeleteRelationship): Observable<RemoteData<NoContent>> {
+    let copyVirtualMetadata: string;
+    if (deleteRelationship.keepLeftVirtualMetadata && deleteRelationship.keepRightVirtualMetadata) {
+      copyVirtualMetadata = 'all';
+    } else if (deleteRelationship.keepLeftVirtualMetadata) {
+      copyVirtualMetadata = 'left';
+    } else if (deleteRelationship.keepRightVirtualMetadata) {
+      copyVirtualMetadata = 'right';
+    } else {
+      copyVirtualMetadata = 'none';
+    }
+
+    return this.relationshipService.deleteRelationship(deleteRelationship.uuid, copyVirtualMetadata, false);
+  }
+
+  addRelationship(addRelationship: RelationshipIdentifiable): Observable<RemoteData<Relationship>> {
+    let leftItem: Item;
+    let rightItem: Item;
+    let leftwardValue: string;
+    let rightwardValue: string;
+    if (addRelationship.originalIsLeft) {
+      leftItem = addRelationship.originalItem;
+      rightItem = addRelationship.relatedItem;
+      leftwardValue = null;
+      rightwardValue = addRelationship.nameVariant;
+    } else {
+      leftItem = addRelationship.relatedItem;
+      rightItem = addRelationship.originalItem;
+      leftwardValue = addRelationship.nameVariant;
+      rightwardValue = null;
+    }
+    return this.relationshipService.addRelationship(addRelationship.type.id, leftItem, rightItem, leftwardValue, rightwardValue, false);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Display notifications
+   * - Error notification for each failed response with their message
+   * - Success notification in case there's at least one successful response
+   * @param responses
+   */
+  displayNotifications(responses: RemoteData<NoContent>[]): void {
+    const failedResponses = responses.filter((response: RemoteData<NoContent>) => response.hasFailed);
+    const successfulResponses = responses.filter((response: RemoteData<NoContent>) => response.hasSucceeded);
+
+    failedResponses.forEach((response: RemoteData<NoContent>) => {
+      this.notificationsService.error(this.getNotificationTitle('failed'), response.errorMessage);
+    });
+    if (successfulResponses.length > 0) {
+      this.notificationsService.success(this.getNotificationTitle('saved'), this.getNotificationContent('saved'));
+    }
+  }
+
+
+
+  /**
+   * Get translated notification title
+   * @param key
+   */
+  getNotificationTitle(key: string): string {
+    return this.translateService.instant(this.notificationsPrefix + key + '.title');
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get translated notification content
+   * @param key
+   */
+  getNotificationContent(key: string): string {
+    return this.translateService.instant(this.notificationsPrefix + key + '.content');
+
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.html b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.html
index 0a99a5820f8..e32938590f2 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.html
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <h2 class="h4">
-    {{getRelationshipMessageKey$ | async | translate}}
+    {{relationshipMessageKey$ | async | translate}}
     <button class="ml-2 btn btn-success" [disabled]="(hasChanges | async)" (click)="openLookup()">
         <i class="fas fa-plus"></i>
         <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.relationships.edit.buttons.add" | translate}}</span>
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.spec.ts b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.spec.ts
index e28a3633c4c..42296a1d71a 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.spec.ts
@@ -10,19 +10,17 @@ import {
 import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import {
   ActivatedRoute,
-  Router,
+  RouterModule,
 } from '@angular/router';
 import { provideMockStore } from '@ngrx/store/testing';
 import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
+import { cold } from 'jasmine-marbles';
 import { of as observableOf } from 'rxjs';
-import { AuthRequestService } from 'src/app/core/auth/auth-request.service';
-import { CookieService } from 'src/app/core/services/cookie.service';
-import { HardRedirectService } from 'src/app/core/services/hard-redirect.service';
-import { ActivatedRouteStub } from 'src/app/shared/testing/active-router.stub';
-import { AuthRequestServiceStub } from 'src/app/shared/testing/auth-request-service.stub';
 
 import { APP_CONFIG } from '../../../../../config/app-config.interface';
+import { environment } from '../../../../../environments/environment.test';
 import { REQUEST } from '../../../../../express.tokens';
+import { AuthRequestService } from '../../../../core/auth/auth-request.service';
 import { LinkService } from '../../../../core/cache/builders/link.service';
 import { ConfigurationDataService } from '../../../../core/data/configuration-data.service';
 import { FieldChangeType } from '../../../../core/data/object-updates/field-change-type.model';
@@ -31,6 +29,8 @@ import { RelationshipDataService } from '../../../../core/data/relationship-data
 import { RelationshipTypeDataService } from '../../../../core/data/relationship-type-data.service';
 import { GroupDataService } from '../../../../core/eperson/group-data.service';
 import { PaginationService } from '../../../../core/pagination/pagination.service';
+import { CookieService } from '../../../../core/services/cookie.service';
+import { HardRedirectService } from '../../../../core/services/hard-redirect.service';
 import { LinkHeadService } from '../../../../core/services/link-head.service';
 import { ConfigurationProperty } from '../../../../core/shared/configuration-property.model';
 import { Item } from '../../../../core/shared/item.model';
@@ -40,51 +40,55 @@ import { RelationshipType } from '../../../../core/shared/item-relationships/rel
 import { SearchConfigurationService } from '../../../../core/shared/search/search-configuration.service';
 import { XSRFService } from '../../../../core/xsrf/xsrf.service';
 import { HostWindowService } from '../../../../shared/host-window.service';
-import { RouterMock } from '../../../../shared/mocks/router.mock';
 import { SelectableListService } from '../../../../shared/object-list/selectable-list/selectable-list.service';
 import { PaginationComponent } from '../../../../shared/pagination/pagination.component';
 import { PaginationComponentOptions } from '../../../../shared/pagination/pagination-component-options.model';
 import { createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$ } from '../../../../shared/remote-data.utils';
+import { ActivatedRouteStub } from '../../../../shared/testing/active-router.stub';
+import { AuthRequestServiceStub } from '../../../../shared/testing/auth-request-service.stub';
+import { EditItemRelationshipsServiceStub } from '../../../../shared/testing/edit-item-relationships.service.stub';
 import { HostWindowServiceStub } from '../../../../shared/testing/host-window-service.stub';
 import { PaginationServiceStub } from '../../../../shared/testing/pagination-service.stub';
 import { SearchConfigurationServiceStub } from '../../../../shared/testing/search-configuration-service.stub';
 import { createPaginatedList } from '../../../../shared/testing/utils.test';
+import { EditItemRelationshipsService } from '../edit-item-relationships.service';
 import { EditRelationshipListComponent } from './edit-relationship-list.component';
 
-let comp: EditRelationshipListComponent;
-let fixture: ComponentFixture<EditRelationshipListComponent>;
-let de: DebugElement;
-
-let linkService;
-let objectUpdatesService;
-let relationshipService;
-let selectableListService;
-let paginationService;
-let hostWindowService;
-let hardRedirectService;
-const relationshipTypeService = {};
-
-const url = 'http://test-url.com/test-url';
-
-let item;
-let entityType;
-let relatedEntityType;
-let author1;
-let author2;
-let fieldUpdate1;
-let fieldUpdate2;
-let relationships;
-let relationshipType;
-let paginationOptions;
-
 describe('EditRelationshipListComponent', () => {
 
+  let comp: EditRelationshipListComponent;
+  let fixture: ComponentFixture<EditRelationshipListComponent>;
+  let de: DebugElement;
+
+  let linkService;
+  let objectUpdatesService;
+  let relationshipService;
+  let selectableListService;
+  let paginationService: PaginationServiceStub;
+  let hostWindowService: HostWindowServiceStub;
+  let hardRedirectService;
+  const relationshipTypeService = {};
+  let editItemRelationshipsService: EditItemRelationshipsServiceStub;
+
+  const url = 'http://test-url.com/test-url';
+
+  let itemLeft: Item;
+  let entityTypeLeft: ItemType;
+  let entityTypeRight: ItemType;
+  let itemRight1: Item;
+  let itemRight2: Item;
+  let fieldUpdate1;
+  let fieldUpdate2;
+  let relationships: Relationship[];
+  let relationshipType: RelationshipType;
+  let paginationOptions: PaginationComponentOptions;
+
   const resetComponent = () => {
     fixture = TestBed.createComponent(EditRelationshipListComponent);
     comp = fixture.componentInstance;
     de = fixture.debugElement;
-    comp.item = item;
-    comp.itemType = entityType;
+    comp.item = itemLeft;
+    comp.itemType = entityTypeLeft;
     comp.url = url;
     comp.relationshipType = relationshipType;
     comp.hasChanges = observableOf(false);
@@ -101,29 +105,26 @@ describe('EditRelationshipListComponent', () => {
     },
   };
 
-  hardRedirectService = jasmine.createSpyObj('hardRedirectService', ['redirect']);
-
-  beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => {
-
-    entityType = Object.assign(new ItemType(), {
-      id: 'Publication',
-      uuid: 'Publication',
-      label: 'Publication',
+  function init(leftType: string, rightType: string): void {
+    entityTypeLeft = Object.assign(new ItemType(), {
+      id: leftType,
+      uuid: leftType,
+      label: leftType,
     });
 
-    relatedEntityType = Object.assign(new ItemType(), {
-      id: 'Author',
-      uuid: 'Author',
-      label: 'Author',
+    entityTypeRight = Object.assign(new ItemType(), {
+      id: rightType,
+      uuid: rightType,
+      label: rightType,
     });
 
     relationshipType = Object.assign(new RelationshipType(), {
       id: '1',
       uuid: '1',
-      leftType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(entityType),
-      rightType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(relatedEntityType),
-      leftwardType: 'isAuthorOfPublication',
-      rightwardType: 'isPublicationOfAuthor',
+      leftType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(entityTypeLeft),
+      rightType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(entityTypeRight),
+      leftwardType: `is${rightType}Of${leftType}`,
+      rightwardType: `is${leftType}Of${rightType}`,
     });
 
     paginationOptions = Object.assign(new PaginationComponentOptions(), {
@@ -132,13 +133,13 @@ describe('EditRelationshipListComponent', () => {
       currentPage: 1,
     });
 
-    author1 = Object.assign(new Item(), {
-      id: 'author1',
-      uuid: 'author1',
+    itemRight1 = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+      id: `${rightType}-1`,
+      uuid: `${rightType}-1`,
     });
-    author2 = Object.assign(new Item(), {
-      id: 'author2',
-      uuid: 'author2',
+    itemRight2 = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+      id: `${rightType}-2`,
+      uuid: `${rightType}-2`,
     });
 
     relationships = [
@@ -147,25 +148,25 @@ describe('EditRelationshipListComponent', () => {
         id: '2',
         uuid: '2',
         relationshipType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(relationshipType),
-        leftItem: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(item),
-        rightItem: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(author1),
+        leftItem: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(itemLeft),
+        rightItem: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(itemRight1),
       }),
       Object.assign(new Relationship(), {
         self: url + '/3',
         id: '3',
         uuid: '3',
         relationshipType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(relationshipType),
-        leftItem: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(item),
-        rightItem: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(author2),
+        leftItem: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(itemLeft),
+        rightItem: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(itemRight2),
       }),
     ];
 
-    item = Object.assign(new Item(), {
+    itemLeft = Object.assign(new Item(), {
       _links: {
         self: { href: 'fake-item-url/publication' },
       },
-      id: 'publication',
-      uuid: 'publication',
+      id: `1-${leftType}`,
+      uuid: `1-${leftType}`,
       relationships: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(createPaginatedList(relationships)),
     });
 
@@ -197,7 +198,7 @@ describe('EditRelationshipListComponent', () => {
 
     relationshipService = jasmine.createSpyObj('relationshipService',
       {
-        getRelatedItemsByLabel: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(createPaginatedList([author1, author2])),
+        getRelatedItemsByLabel: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(createPaginatedList([itemRight1, itemRight2])),
         getItemRelationshipsByLabel: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(createPaginatedList(relationships)),
         isLeftItem: observableOf(true),
       },
@@ -233,14 +234,14 @@ describe('EditRelationshipListComponent', () => {
       })),
     });
 
-    const environmentUseThumbs = {
-      browseBy: {
-        showThumbnails: true,
-      },
-    };
+    editItemRelationshipsService = new EditItemRelationshipsServiceStub();
 
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
-      imports: [TranslateModule.forRoot(), EditRelationshipListComponent],
+      imports: [
+        EditRelationshipListComponent,
+        RouterModule.forRoot([]),
+        TranslateModule.forRoot(),
+      ],
       providers: [
         provideMockStore({ initialState }),
         { provide: ObjectUpdatesService, useValue: objectUpdatesService },
@@ -251,15 +252,15 @@ describe('EditRelationshipListComponent', () => {
         { provide: HostWindowService, useValue: hostWindowService },
         { provide: RelationshipTypeDataService, useValue: relationshipTypeService },
         { provide: GroupDataService, useValue: groupDataService },
-        { provide: Router, useValue: new RouterMock() },
         { provide: LinkHeadService, useValue: linkHeadService },
         { provide: ConfigurationDataService, useValue: configurationDataService },
         { provide: SearchConfigurationService, useValue: new SearchConfigurationServiceStub() },
+        { provide: EditItemRelationshipsService, useValue: editItemRelationshipsService },
         { provide: ActivatedRoute, useValue: new ActivatedRouteStub() },
         { provide: AuthRequestService, useValue: new AuthRequestServiceStub() },
         { provide: HardRedirectService, useValue: hardRedirectService },
         { provide: XSRFService, useValue: {} },
-        { provide: APP_CONFIG, useValue: environmentUseThumbs },
+        { provide: APP_CONFIG, useValue: environment },
         { provide: REQUEST, useValue: {} },
         CookieService,
       ], schemas: [
@@ -268,114 +269,127 @@ describe('EditRelationshipListComponent', () => {
     }).compileComponents();
 
     resetComponent();
-  }));
-
-  describe('changeType is REMOVE', () => {
-    beforeEach(() => {
-      fieldUpdate1.changeType = FieldChangeType.REMOVE;
-      fixture.detectChanges();
-    });
-    it('the div should have class alert-danger', () => {
-      const element = de.queryAll(By.css('.relationship-row'))[1].nativeElement;
-      expect(element.classList).toContain('alert-danger');
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('pagination component', () => {
-    let paginationComp: PaginationComponent;
+  }
 
-    beforeEach(() => {
-      paginationComp = de.query(By.css('ds-pagination')).componentInstance;
-    });
+  describe('Publication - Author relationship', () => {
+    beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => init('Publication', 'Author')));
 
-    it('should receive the correct pagination config', () => {
-      expect(paginationComp.paginationOptions).toEqual(paginationOptions);
+    describe('changeType is REMOVE', () => {
+      beforeEach(() => {
+        fieldUpdate1.changeType = FieldChangeType.REMOVE;
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+      });
+      it('the div should have class alert-danger', () => {
+        const element = de.queryAll(By.css('.relationship-row'))[1].nativeElement;
+        expect(element.classList).toContain('alert-danger');
+      });
     });
 
-    it('should receive correct collection size', () => {
-      expect(paginationComp.collectionSize).toEqual(relationships.length);
-    });
+    describe('pagination component', () => {
+      let paginationComp: PaginationComponent;
 
-  });
+      beforeEach(() => {
+        paginationComp = de.query(By.css('ds-pagination')).componentInstance;
+      });
 
-  describe('relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel', () => {
-    it('should receive the correct pagination info', () => {
-      expect(relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      it('should receive the correct pagination config', () => {
+        expect(paginationComp.paginationOptions).toEqual(paginationOptions);
+      });
 
-      const callArgs = relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel.calls.mostRecent().args;
-      const findListOptions = callArgs[2];
-      const linksToFollow = callArgs[5];
-      expect(findListOptions.elementsPerPage).toEqual(paginationOptions.pageSize);
-      expect(findListOptions.currentPage).toEqual(paginationOptions.currentPage);
-      expect(linksToFollow.linksToFollow[0].name).toEqual('thumbnail');
+      it('should receive correct collection size', () => {
+        expect(paginationComp.collectionSize).toEqual(relationships.length);
+      });
 
     });
 
-    describe('when the publication is on the left side of the relationship', () => {
-      beforeEach(() => {
-        relationshipType = Object.assign(new RelationshipType(), {
-          id: '1',
-          uuid: '1',
-          leftType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(entityType), // publication
-          rightType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(relatedEntityType), // author
-          leftwardType: 'isAuthorOfPublication',
-          rightwardType: 'isPublicationOfAuthor',
-        });
-        relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel.calls.reset();
-        resetComponent();
-      });
-
-      it('should fetch isAuthorOfPublication', () => {
+    describe('relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel', () => {
+      it('should receive the correct pagination info', () => {
         expect(relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
 
         const callArgs = relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel.calls.mostRecent().args;
-        const label = callArgs[1];
+        const findListOptions = callArgs[2];
+        const linksToFollow = callArgs[5];
+        expect(findListOptions.elementsPerPage).toEqual(paginationOptions.pageSize);
+        expect(findListOptions.currentPage).toEqual(paginationOptions.currentPage);
+        expect(linksToFollow.linksToFollow[0].name).toEqual('thumbnail');
 
-        expect(label).toEqual('isAuthorOfPublication');
       });
-    });
 
-    describe('when the publication is on the right side of the relationship', () => {
-      beforeEach(() => {
-        relationshipType = Object.assign(new RelationshipType(), {
-          id: '1',
-          uuid: '1',
-          leftType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(relatedEntityType), // author
-          rightType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(entityType), // publication
-          leftwardType: 'isPublicationOfAuthor',
-          rightwardType: 'isAuthorOfPublication',
+      describe('when the publication is on the left side of the relationship', () => {
+        beforeEach(() => {
+          relationshipType = Object.assign(new RelationshipType(), {
+            id: '1',
+            uuid: '1',
+            leftType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(entityTypeLeft), // publication
+            rightType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(entityTypeRight), // author
+            leftwardType: 'isAuthorOfPublication',
+            rightwardType: 'isPublicationOfAuthor',
+          });
+          relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel.calls.reset();
+          resetComponent();
         });
-        relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel.calls.reset();
-        resetComponent();
-      });
 
-      it('should fetch isAuthorOfPublication', () => {
-        expect(relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+        it('should fetch isAuthorOfPublication', () => {
+          expect(relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
 
-        const callArgs = relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel.calls.mostRecent().args;
-        const label = callArgs[1];
+          const callArgs = relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel.calls.mostRecent().args;
+          const label = callArgs[1];
 
-        expect(label).toEqual('isAuthorOfPublication');
+          expect(label).toEqual('isAuthorOfPublication');
+        });
       });
-    });
 
+      describe('when the publication is on the right side of the relationship', () => {
+        beforeEach(() => {
+          relationshipType = Object.assign(new RelationshipType(), {
+            id: '1',
+            uuid: '1',
+            leftType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(entityTypeRight), // author
+            rightType: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(entityTypeLeft), // publication
+            leftwardType: 'isPublicationOfAuthor',
+            rightwardType: 'isAuthorOfPublication',
+          });
+          relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel.calls.reset();
+          resetComponent();
+        });
 
+        it('should fetch isAuthorOfPublication', () => {
+          expect(relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
 
-    describe('changes managment for add buttons', () => {
+          const callArgs = relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel.calls.mostRecent().args;
+          const label = callArgs[1];
 
-      it('should show enabled add buttons', () => {
-        const element = de.query(By.css('.btn-success'));
-        expect(element.nativeElement?.disabled).toBeFalse();
+          expect(label).toEqual('isAuthorOfPublication');
+        });
       });
 
-      it('after hash changes changed', () => {
-        comp.hasChanges = observableOf(true);
-        fixture.detectChanges();
-        const element = de.query(By.css('.btn-success'));
-        expect(element.nativeElement?.disabled).toBeTrue();
+
+
+      describe('changes managment for add buttons', () => {
+
+        it('should show enabled add buttons', () => {
+          const element = de.query(By.css('.btn-success'));
+          expect(element.nativeElement?.disabled).toBeFalse();
+        });
+
+        it('after hash changes changed', () => {
+          comp.hasChanges = observableOf(true);
+          fixture.detectChanges();
+          const element = de.query(By.css('.btn-success'));
+          expect(element.nativeElement?.disabled).toBeTrue();
+        });
       });
-    });
 
+    });
   });
 
+  describe('OrgUnit - OrgUnit relationship', () => {
+    beforeEach(waitForAsync(() => init('OrgUnit', 'OrgUnit')));
+
+    it('should emit the relatedEntityType$ even for same entity relationships', () => {
+      expect(comp.relatedEntityType$).toBeObservable(cold('(a|)', {
+        a: entityTypeRight,
+      }));
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.ts b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.ts
index d9029a7af4d..e396c5ee927 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component.ts
@@ -21,11 +21,13 @@ import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 import {
   BehaviorSubject,
   combineLatest as observableCombineLatest,
+  EMPTY,
   from as observableFrom,
   Observable,
   Subscription,
 } from 'rxjs';
 import {
+  concatMap,
   defaultIfEmpty,
   map,
   mergeMap,
@@ -48,7 +50,6 @@ import { RelationshipIdentifiable } from '../../../../core/data/object-updates/o
 import { ObjectUpdatesService } from '../../../../core/data/object-updates/object-updates.service';
 import { PaginatedList } from '../../../../core/data/paginated-list.model';
 import { RelationshipDataService } from '../../../../core/data/relationship-data.service';
-import { RelationshipTypeDataService } from '../../../../core/data/relationship-type-data.service';
 import { RemoteData } from '../../../../core/data/remote-data';
 import { PaginationService } from '../../../../core/pagination/pagination.service';
 import { Collection } from '../../../../core/shared/collection.model';
@@ -70,14 +71,15 @@ import {
 import { DsDynamicLookupRelationModalComponent } from '../../../../shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/dynamic-lookup-relation-modal.component';
 import { RelationshipOptions } from '../../../../shared/form/builder/models/relationship-options.model';
 import { ThemedLoadingComponent } from '../../../../shared/loading/themed-loading.component';
+import { ItemSearchResult } from '../../../../shared/object-collection/shared/item-search-result.model';
 import { SelectableListService } from '../../../../shared/object-list/selectable-list/selectable-list.service';
 import { PaginationComponent } from '../../../../shared/pagination/pagination.component';
 import { PaginationComponentOptions } from '../../../../shared/pagination/pagination-component-options.model';
-import { SearchResult } from '../../../../shared/search/models/search-result.model';
 import { FollowLinkConfig } from '../../../../shared/utils/follow-link-config.model';
 import { ObjectValuesPipe } from '../../../../shared/utils/object-values-pipe';
 import { itemLinksToFollow } from '../../../../shared/utils/relation-query.utils';
 import { VarDirective } from '../../../../shared/utils/var.directive';
+import { EditItemRelationshipsService } from '../edit-item-relationships.service';
 import { EditRelationshipComponent } from '../edit-relationship/edit-relationship.component';
 
 @Component({
@@ -130,7 +132,7 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
   /**
    * The event emmiter to submit the new information
    */
-  @Output() submit: EventEmitter<any> = new EventEmitter();
+  @Output() submitModal: EventEmitter<void> = new EventEmitter();
 
   /**
    * Observable that emits the left and right item type of {@link relationshipType} simultaneously.
@@ -141,11 +143,14 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
    * Observable that emits true if {@link itemType} is on the left-hand side of {@link relationshipType},
    * false if it is on the right-hand side and undefined in the rare case that it is on neither side.
    */
-  private currentItemIsLeftItem$: Observable<boolean>;
+  private currentItemIsLeftItem$: BehaviorSubject<boolean> = new BehaviorSubject(undefined);
 
-  private relatedEntityType$: Observable<ItemType>;
+  relatedEntityType$: Observable<ItemType>;
 
-  getRelationshipMessageKey$: Observable<string>;
+  /**
+   * The translation key for the entity type
+   */
+  relationshipMessageKey$: Observable<string>;
 
   /**
    * The list ID to save selected entities under
@@ -202,15 +207,38 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
     protected objectUpdatesService: ObjectUpdatesService,
     protected linkService: LinkService,
     protected relationshipService: RelationshipDataService,
-    protected relationshipTypeService: RelationshipTypeDataService,
     protected modalService: NgbModal,
     protected paginationService: PaginationService,
     protected selectableListService: SelectableListService,
+    protected editItemRelationshipsService: EditItemRelationshipsService,
     @Inject(APP_CONFIG) protected appConfig: AppConfig,
   ) {
     this.fetchThumbnail = this.appConfig.browseBy.showThumbnails;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the i18n message key for this relationship type
+   */
+  public getRelationshipMessageKey(): Observable<string> {
+    return observableCombineLatest([
+      this.getLabel(),
+      this.relatedEntityType$,
+    ]).pipe(
+      map(([label, relatedEntityType]) => {
+        if (hasValue(label) && label.indexOf('is') > -1 && label.indexOf('Of') > -1) {
+          const relationshipLabel = `${label.substring(2, label.indexOf('Of'))}`;
+          if (relationshipLabel !== relatedEntityType.label) {
+            return `relationships.is${relationshipLabel}Of.${relatedEntityType.label}`;
+          } else {
+            return `relationships.is${relationshipLabel}Of`;
+          }
+        } else {
+          return label;
+        }
+      }),
+    );
+  }
+
   /**
    * Get the relevant label for this relationship type
    */
@@ -240,7 +268,6 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
    * Open the dynamic lookup modal to search for items to add as relationships
    */
   openLookup() {
-
     this.modalRef = this.modalService.open(DsDynamicLookupRelationModalComponent, {
       size: 'lg',
     });
@@ -261,11 +288,11 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
       modalComp.collection = collection;
     });
 
-    modalComp.select = (...selectableObjects: SearchResult<Item>[]) => {
+    modalComp.select = (...selectableObjects: ItemSearchResult[]) => {
       selectableObjects.forEach((searchResult) => {
         const relatedItem: Item = searchResult.indexableObject;
 
-        const foundIndex = modalComp.toRemove.findIndex( el => el.uuid === relatedItem.uuid);
+        const foundIndex = modalComp.toRemove.findIndex((itemSearchResult: ItemSearchResult) => itemSearchResult.indexableObject.uuid === relatedItem.uuid);
 
         if (foundIndex !== -1) {
           modalComp.toRemove.splice(foundIndex,1);
@@ -289,7 +316,7 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
         }
       });
     };
-    modalComp.deselect = (...selectableObjects: SearchResult<Item>[]) => {
+    modalComp.deselect = (...selectableObjects: ItemSearchResult[]) => {
       selectableObjects.forEach((searchResult) => {
         const relatedItem: Item = searchResult.indexableObject;
 
@@ -306,51 +333,57 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
 
 
     modalComp.submitEv = () => {
-
-      const subscriptions = [];
-
-      modalComp.toAdd.forEach((searchResult: SearchResult<Item>) => {
-        const relatedItem = searchResult.indexableObject;
-        subscriptions.push(this.relationshipService.getNameVariant(this.listId, relatedItem.uuid).pipe(
-          map((nameVariant) => {
-            const update = {
-              uuid: this.relationshipType.id + '-' + searchResult.indexableObject.uuid,
-              nameVariant,
-              type: this.relationshipType,
-              relatedItem,
-            } as RelationshipIdentifiable;
-            this.objectUpdatesService.saveAddFieldUpdate(this.url, update);
-            return update;
-          }),
-        ));
-      });
-
-      modalComp.toRemove.forEach( (searchResult) => {
-        subscriptions.push(this.relationshipService.getNameVariant(this.listId, searchResult.indexableObjectuuid).pipe(
-          switchMap((nameVariant) => {
-            return this.getRelationFromId(searchResult.indexableObject).pipe(
-              map( (relationship: Relationship) => {
+      modalComp.isPending = true;
+      const isLeft = this.currentItemIsLeftItem$.getValue();
+      const addOperations = modalComp.toAdd.map((searchResult: ItemSearchResult) => ({ type: 'add', searchResult }));
+      const removeOperations = modalComp.toRemove.map((searchResult: ItemSearchResult) => ({ type: 'remove', searchResult }));
+      observableFrom([...addOperations, ...removeOperations]).pipe(
+        concatMap(({ type, searchResult }: { type: string, searchResult: ItemSearchResult }) => {
+          const relatedItem: Item = searchResult.indexableObject;
+          if (type === 'add') {
+            return this.relationshipService.getNameVariant(this.listId, relatedItem.uuid).pipe(
+              switchMap((nameVariant) => {
                 const update = {
-                  uuid: relationship.id,
+                  uuid: `${this.relationshipType.id}-${relatedItem.uuid}`,
                   nameVariant,
                   type: this.relationshipType,
-                  relationship,
+                  originalIsLeft: isLeft,
+                  originalItem: this.item,
+                  relatedItem,
                 } as RelationshipIdentifiable;
-                this.objectUpdatesService.saveRemoveFieldUpdate(this.url,update);
-                return update;
+                return this.objectUpdatesService.saveAddFieldUpdate(this.url, update);
               }),
+              take(1),
             );
-          }),
-        ));
-      });
-
-      observableCombineLatest(subscriptions).subscribe( (res) => {
-        // Wait until the states changes since there are multiple items
-        setTimeout( () => {
-          this.submit.emit();
-        },1000);
-
-        modalComp.isPending = true;
+          } else if (type === 'remove') {
+            return this.relationshipService.getNameVariant(this.listId, relatedItem.uuid).pipe(
+              switchMap((nameVariant) => {
+                return this.getRelationFromId(searchResult.indexableObject).pipe(
+                  map( (relationship: Relationship) => {
+                    const update = {
+                      uuid: relationship.id,
+                      nameVariant,
+                      type: this.relationshipType,
+                      originalIsLeft: isLeft,
+                      originalItem: this.item,
+                      relationship,
+                    } as RelationshipIdentifiable;
+                    return this.objectUpdatesService.saveRemoveFieldUpdate(this.url,update);
+                  }),
+                );
+              }),
+              take(1),
+            );
+          } else {
+            return EMPTY;
+          }
+        }),
+        toArray(),
+      ).subscribe({
+        complete: () => {
+          this.editItemRelationshipsService.submit(this.item, this.url);
+          this.submitModal.emit();
+        },
       });
     };
 
@@ -384,92 +417,15 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
   }
 
   getRelationFromId(relatedItem) {
-    return this.currentItemIsLeftItem$.pipe(
-      take(1),
-      switchMap( isLeft => {
-        let apiCall;
-        if (isLeft) {
-          apiCall = this.relationshipService.searchByItemsAndType( this.relationshipType.id, this.item.uuid, this.relationshipType.leftwardType ,[relatedItem.id] ).pipe(
-            getFirstSucceededRemoteData(),
-            getRemoteDataPayload(),
-          );
-        } else {
-          apiCall = this.relationshipService.searchByItemsAndType( this.relationshipType.id, this.item.uuid, this.relationshipType.rightwardType ,[relatedItem.id] ).pipe(
-            getFirstSucceededRemoteData(),
-            getRemoteDataPayload(),
-          );
-        }
-
-        return apiCall.pipe(
-          map( (res: PaginatedList<Relationship>) => res.page[0]),
-        );
-      },
-      ));
-  }
-
-
-
-  /**
-   * Get the existing field updates regarding a relationship with a given item
-   * @param relatedItem The item for which to get the existing field updates
-   */
-  private getFieldUpdatesForRelatedItem(relatedItem: Item): Observable<RelationshipIdentifiable[]> {
-    return this.updates$.pipe(
-      take(1),
-      map((updates) => Object.values(updates)
-        .map((update) => update.field as RelationshipIdentifiable)
-        .filter((field) => field.relationship),
-      ),
-      mergeMap((identifiables) =>
-        observableCombineLatest(
-          identifiables.map((identifiable) => this.getRelatedItem(identifiable.relationship)),
-        ).pipe(
-          defaultIfEmpty([]),
-          map((relatedItems) => {
-            return identifiables.filter( (identifiable, index) => {
-              return relatedItems[index].uuid === relatedItem.uuid;
-            });
-          },
-          ),
-        ),
-      ),
-    );
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Check if the given item is related with the item we are editing relationships
-   * @param relatedItem The item for which to get the existing field updates
-   */
-  private getIsRelatedItem(relatedItem: Item): Observable<boolean> {
-
-    return this.currentItemIsLeftItem$.pipe(
-      take(1),
-      map( isLeft => {
-        if (isLeft) {
-          const listOfRelatedItems = this.item.allMetadataValues( 'relation.' + this.relationshipType.leftwardType );
-          return !!listOfRelatedItems.find( (uuid) => uuid === relatedItem.uuid );
-        } else {
-          const listOfRelatedItems = this.item.allMetadataValues( 'relation.' + this.relationshipType.rightwardType );
-          return !!listOfRelatedItems.find( (uuid) => uuid === relatedItem.uuid );
-        }
-      }),
-    );
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Get the related item for a given relationship
-   * @param relationship  The relationship for which to get the related item
-   */
-  private getRelatedItem(relationship: Relationship): Observable<Item> {
-    return this.relationshipService.isLeftItem(relationship, this.item).pipe(
-      switchMap((isLeftItem) => isLeftItem ? relationship.rightItem : relationship.leftItem),
+    const relationshipLabel = this.currentItemIsLeftItem$.getValue() ? this.relationshipType.leftwardType : this.relationshipType.rightwardType;
+    return this.relationshipService.searchByItemsAndType( this.relationshipType.id, this.item.uuid, relationshipLabel ,[relatedItem.id] ).pipe(
       getFirstSucceededRemoteData(),
       getRemoteDataPayload(),
-    ) as Observable<Item>;
+      map( (res: PaginatedList<Relationship>) => res.page[0]),
+    );
   }
 
   ngOnInit(): void {
-
     // store the left and right type of the relationship in a single observable
     this.relationshipLeftAndRightType$ = observableCombineLatest([
       this.relationshipType.leftType,
@@ -480,7 +436,13 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
     ))) as Observable<[ItemType, ItemType]>;
 
     this.relatedEntityType$ = this.relationshipLeftAndRightType$.pipe(
-      map((relatedTypes: ItemType[]) => relatedTypes.find((relatedType) => relatedType.uuid !== this.itemType.uuid)),
+      map(([leftType, rightType]: [ItemType, ItemType]) => {
+        if (leftType.uuid !== this.itemType.uuid) {
+          return leftType;
+        } else {
+          return rightType;
+        }
+      }),
       hasValueOperator(),
     );
 
@@ -490,7 +452,9 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
       (relatedEntityType) => this.listId = `edit-relationship-${this.itemType.id}-${relatedEntityType.id}`,
     );
 
-    this.currentItemIsLeftItem$ = this.relationshipLeftAndRightType$.pipe(
+    this.relationshipMessageKey$ = this.getRelationshipMessageKey();
+
+    this.subs.push(this.relationshipLeftAndRightType$.pipe(
       map(([leftType, rightType]: [ItemType, ItemType]) => {
         if (leftType.id === this.itemType.id) {
           return true;
@@ -504,25 +468,9 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
         console.warn(`The item ${this.item.uuid} is not on the right or the left side of relationship type ${this.relationshipType.uuid}`);
         return undefined;
       }),
-    );
-
-    this.getRelationshipMessageKey$ = observableCombineLatest(
-      this.getLabel(),
-      this.relatedEntityType$,
-    ).pipe(
-      map(([label, relatedEntityType]) => {
-        if (hasValue(label) && label.indexOf('is') > -1 && label.indexOf('Of') > -1) {
-          const relationshipLabel = `${label.substring(2, label.indexOf('Of'))}`;
-          if (relationshipLabel !== relatedEntityType.label) {
-            return `relationships.is${relationshipLabel}Of.${relatedEntityType.label}`;
-          } else {
-            return `relationships.is${relationshipLabel}Of`;
-          }
-        } else {
-          return label;
-        }
-      }),
-    );
+    ).subscribe((nextValue: boolean) => {
+      this.currentItemIsLeftItem$.next(nextValue);
+    }));
 
 
     // initialize the pagination options
@@ -547,19 +495,20 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
         currentPagination$,
         this.currentItemIsLeftItem$,
       ]).pipe(
-        switchMap(([currentPagination, currentItemIsLeftItem]: [PaginationComponentOptions, boolean]) =>
+        switchMap(([currentPagination, currentItemIsLeftItem]: [PaginationComponentOptions, boolean]) => {
           // get the relationships for the current item, relationshiptype and page
-          this.relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel(
+          return this.relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsByLabel(
             this.item,
             currentItemIsLeftItem ? this.relationshipType.leftwardType : this.relationshipType.rightwardType,
             {
               elementsPerPage: currentPagination.pageSize,
               currentPage: currentPagination.currentPage,
             },
-            false,
+            true,
             true,
             ...linksToFollow,
-          )),
+          );
+        }),
       ).subscribe((rd: RemoteData<PaginatedList<Relationship>>) => {
         this.relationshipsRd$.next(rd);
       }),
@@ -595,6 +544,8 @@ export class EditRelationshipListComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
               uuid: relationship.id,
               type: this.relationshipType,
               relationship,
+              originalIsLeft: isLeftItem,
+              originalItem: this.item,
               nameVariant,
             } as RelationshipIdentifiable;
           }),
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship/edit-relationship.component.ts b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship/edit-relationship.component.ts
index 5f213327e30..97cfb7a16bb 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship/edit-relationship.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/edit-relationship/edit-relationship.component.ts
@@ -167,9 +167,9 @@ export class EditRelationshipComponent implements OnChanges {
         ) as DeleteRelationship;
       }),
       take(1),
-    ).subscribe((deleteRelationship: DeleteRelationship) =>
-      this.objectUpdatesService.saveRemoveFieldUpdate(this.url, deleteRelationship),
-    );
+    ).subscribe((deleteRelationship: DeleteRelationship) => {
+      this.objectUpdatesService.saveRemoveFieldUpdate(this.url, deleteRelationship);
+    });
   }
 
   openVirtualMetadataModal(content: any) {
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.html b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.html
index c3556962d4d..53eb412a8fa 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.html
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.html
@@ -1,63 +1,55 @@
 <div class="item-relationships">
-  <ng-container *ngVar="entityType$ | async as entityType">
-    <ng-container *ngIf="entityType">
-      <div class="button-row top d-flex space-children-mr">
-        <button class="btn btn-danger ml-auto" *ngIf="(isReinstatable() | async) !== true"
-                [disabled]="(hasChanges() | async) !== true"
-                (click)="discard()"><i
-          class="fas fa-times"></i>
-          <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.metadata.discard-button" | translate}}</span>
-        </button>
-        <button class="btn btn-warning ml-auto" *ngIf="isReinstatable() | async"
-                (click)="reinstate()"><i
-          class="fas fa-undo-alt"></i>
-          <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.metadata.reinstate-button" | translate}}</span>
-        </button>
-        <button class="btn btn-primary" [disabled]="(hasChanges() | async) !== true"
-                (click)="submit()"><i
-          class="fas fa-save"></i>
-          <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.metadata.save-button" | translate}}</span>
-        </button>
+  <ng-container *ngIf="entityType$ | async as entityType; else noEntityType">
+    <div class="button-row top d-flex justify-content-end">
+      <ng-container *ngTemplateOutlet="buttons"></ng-container>
+    </div>
+    <div *ngIf="relationshipTypes$ | async as relationshipTypes; else loading" class="mb-4">
+      <div *ngFor="let relationshipType of relationshipTypes; trackBy: trackById" class="mb-4">
+        <ds-edit-relationship-list
+          [url]="url"
+          [item]="item"
+          [itemType]="entityType"
+          [relationshipType]="relationshipType"
+          [hasChanges]="hasChanges$"
+        ></ds-edit-relationship-list>
       </div>
-      <ng-container *ngVar="relationshipTypes$ | async as relationshipTypes">
-        <ng-container *ngIf="relationshipTypes">
-          <div *ngFor="let relationshipType of relationshipTypes" class="mb-4">
-            <ds-edit-relationship-list
-              [url]="url"
-              [item]="item"
-              [itemType]="entityType$ | async"
-              [relationshipType]="relationshipType"
-              [hasChanges] = hasChanges()
-              (submit) = submit()
-            ></ds-edit-relationship-list>
-          </div>
-        </ng-container>
-        <ds-loading *ngIf="!relationshipTypes"></ds-loading>
-      </ng-container>
-      <div class="button-row bottom">
-        <div class="float-right space-children-mr ml-gap">
-          <button class="btn btn-danger" *ngIf="(isReinstatable() | async) !== true"
-                  [disabled]="(hasChanges() | async) !== true"
-                  (click)="discard()"><i
-            class="fas fa-times"></i>
-            <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.metadata.discard-button" | translate}}</span>
-          </button>
-          <button class="btn btn-warning" *ngIf="isReinstatable() | async"
-                  (click)="reinstate()"><i
-            class="fas fa-undo-alt"></i>
-            <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.metadata.reinstate-button" | translate}}</span>
-          </button>
-          <button class="btn btn-primary" [disabled]="(hasChanges() | async) !== true"
-                  (click)="submit()"><i
-            class="fas fa-save"></i>
-            <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.metadata.save-button" | translate}}</span>
-          </button>
-        </div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="button-row bottom">
+      <div class="float-right ml-gap">
+        <ng-container *ngTemplateOutlet="buttons"></ng-container>
       </div>
-    </ng-container>
-    <div *ngIf="!entityType"
-         class="alert alert-info mt-2" role="alert">
-      {{ 'item.edit.relationships.no-entity-type' | translate }}
     </div>
   </ng-container>
 </div>
+
+<ng-template #noEntityType>
+  <ds-alert [type]="AlertType.Info" class="d-block mt-2">
+    {{ 'item.edit.relationships.no-entity-type' | translate }}
+  </ds-alert>
+</ng-template>
+
+<ng-template #loading>
+  <ds-loading></ds-loading>
+</ng-template>
+
+<ng-template #buttons>
+  <div class="d-flex space-children-mr justify-content-end">
+    <button class="btn btn-danger" *ngIf="(isReinstatable$ | async) !== true"
+            [disabled]="(hasChanges$ | async) !== true"
+            (click)="discard()">
+      <i aria-hidden="true" class="fas fa-times"></i>
+      <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{ 'item.edit.metadata.discard-button' | translate }}</span>
+    </button>
+    <button class="btn btn-warning" *ngIf="isReinstatable$ | async" (click)="reinstate()">
+      <i aria-hidden="true" class="fas fa-undo-alt"></i>
+      <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{ 'item.edit.metadata.reinstate-button' | translate }}</span>
+    </button>
+    <button class="btn btn-primary"
+            [disabled]="(hasChanges$ | async) !== true || (isSaving$ | async) === true"
+            (click)="submit()">
+      <span *ngIf="isSaving$ | async" aria-hidden="true" class="spinner-border spinner-border-sm" role="status"></span>
+      <i *ngIf="(isSaving$ | async) !== true" aria-hidden="true" class="fas fa-save"></i>
+      <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{ 'item.edit.metadata.save-button' | translate }}</span>
+    </button>
+  </div>
+</ng-template>
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.spec.ts b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.spec.ts
index 106edb08efc..28380b3f279 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.spec.ts
@@ -13,12 +13,10 @@ import {
   Router,
 } from '@angular/router';
 import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
-import { getTestScheduler } from 'jasmine-marbles';
 import {
   combineLatest as observableCombineLatest,
   of as observableOf,
 } from 'rxjs';
-import { TestScheduler } from 'rxjs/testing';
 
 import { ObjectCacheService } from '../../../core/cache/object-cache.service';
 import { RestResponse } from '../../../core/cache/response.models';
@@ -33,6 +31,7 @@ import { Item } from '../../../core/shared/item.model';
 import { ItemType } from '../../../core/shared/item-relationships/item-type.model';
 import { Relationship } from '../../../core/shared/item-relationships/relationship.model';
 import { RelationshipType } from '../../../core/shared/item-relationships/relationship-type.model';
+import { AlertComponent } from '../../../shared/alert/alert.component';
 import { getMockThemeService } from '../../../shared/mocks/theme-service.mock';
 import {
   INotification,
@@ -44,6 +43,7 @@ import {
   createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject,
   createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$,
 } from '../../../shared/remote-data.utils';
+import { ItemDataServiceStub } from '../../../shared/testing/item-data.service.stub';
 import { relationshipTypes } from '../../../shared/testing/relationship-types.mock';
 import { RouterStub } from '../../../shared/testing/router.stub';
 import { createPaginatedList } from '../../../shared/testing/utils.test';
@@ -72,12 +72,11 @@ const notificationsService = jasmine.createSpyObj('notificationsService',
 const router = new RouterStub();
 let relationshipTypeService;
 let routeStub;
-let itemService;
+let itemService: ItemDataServiceStub;
 
 const url = 'http://test-url.com/test-url';
 router.url = url;
 
-let scheduler: TestScheduler;
 let item;
 let author1;
 let author2;
@@ -157,10 +156,7 @@ describe('ItemRelationshipsComponent', () => {
       changeType: FieldChangeType.REMOVE,
     };
 
-    itemService = jasmine.createSpyObj('itemService', {
-      findByHref: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(item),
-      findById: createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(item),
-    });
+    itemService = new ItemDataServiceStub();
     routeStub = {
       data: observableOf({}),
       parent: {
@@ -228,7 +224,6 @@ describe('ItemRelationshipsComponent', () => {
       },
     );
 
-    scheduler = getTestScheduler();
     TestBed.configureTestingModule({
       imports: [TranslateModule.forRoot(), ItemRelationshipsComponent],
       providers: [
@@ -247,10 +242,18 @@ describe('ItemRelationshipsComponent', () => {
       ], schemas: [
         NO_ERRORS_SCHEMA,
       ],
+    }).overrideComponent(ItemRelationshipsComponent, {
+      remove: {
+        imports: [
+          AlertComponent,
+        ],
+      },
     }).compileComponents();
   }));
 
   beforeEach(() => {
+    spyOn(itemService, 'findByHref').and.returnValue(item);
+    spyOn(itemService, 'findById').and.returnValue(item);
     fixture = TestBed.createComponent(ItemRelationshipsComponent);
     comp = fixture.componentInstance;
     de = fixture.debugElement;
@@ -285,7 +288,7 @@ describe('ItemRelationshipsComponent', () => {
     });
 
     it('it should delete the correct relationship', () => {
-      expect(relationshipService.deleteRelationship).toHaveBeenCalledWith(relationships[1].uuid, 'left');
+      expect(relationshipService.deleteRelationship).toHaveBeenCalledWith(relationships[1].uuid, 'left', false);
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.ts b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.ts
index ea9b571cd62..051c4db1361 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/item-relationships/item-relationships.component.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import {
   AsyncPipe,
   NgForOf,
   NgIf,
+  NgTemplateOutlet,
 } from '@angular/common';
 import {
   ChangeDetectorRef,
@@ -17,49 +18,37 @@ import {
   TranslateService,
 } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 import {
-  combineLatest as observableCombineLatest,
+  BehaviorSubject,
   Observable,
-  of as observableOf,
-  zip as observableZip,
 } from 'rxjs';
 import {
+  distinctUntilChanged,
   map,
-  startWith,
-  switchMap,
-  take,
 } from 'rxjs/operators';
 
 import { ObjectCacheService } from '../../../core/cache/object-cache.service';
 import { EntityTypeDataService } from '../../../core/data/entity-type-data.service';
 import { ItemDataService } from '../../../core/data/item-data.service';
-import { FieldChangeType } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/field-change-type.model';
-import { FieldUpdate } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/field-update.model';
-import { FieldUpdates } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/field-updates.model';
-import {
-  DeleteRelationship,
-  RelationshipIdentifiable,
-} from '../../../core/data/object-updates/object-updates.reducer';
 import { ObjectUpdatesService } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/object-updates.service';
 import { PaginatedList } from '../../../core/data/paginated-list.model';
 import { RelationshipDataService } from '../../../core/data/relationship-data.service';
 import { RelationshipTypeDataService } from '../../../core/data/relationship-type-data.service';
-import { RemoteData } from '../../../core/data/remote-data';
 import { RequestService } from '../../../core/data/request.service';
-import { Item } from '../../../core/shared/item.model';
 import { ItemType } from '../../../core/shared/item-relationships/item-type.model';
-import { Relationship } from '../../../core/shared/item-relationships/relationship.model';
 import { RelationshipType } from '../../../core/shared/item-relationships/relationship-type.model';
-import { NoContent } from '../../../core/shared/NoContent.model';
 import {
   getFirstSucceededRemoteData,
   getRemoteDataPayload,
 } from '../../../core/shared/operators';
-import { hasValue } from '../../../shared/empty.util';
+import { AlertComponent } from '../../../shared/alert/alert.component';
+import { AlertType } from '../../../shared/alert/alert-type';
 import { ThemedLoadingComponent } from '../../../shared/loading/themed-loading.component';
 import { NotificationsService } from '../../../shared/notifications/notifications.service';
 import { followLink } from '../../../shared/utils/follow-link-config.model';
 import { VarDirective } from '../../../shared/utils/var.directive';
+import { compareArraysUsingIds } from '../../simple/item-types/shared/item-relationships-utils';
 import { AbstractItemUpdateComponent } from '../abstract-item-update/abstract-item-update.component';
+import { EditItemRelationshipsService } from './edit-item-relationships.service';
 import { EditRelationshipListComponent } from './edit-relationship-list/edit-relationship-list.component';
 
 @Component({
@@ -67,12 +56,14 @@ import { EditRelationshipListComponent } from './edit-relationship-list/edit-rel
   styleUrls: ['./item-relationships.component.scss'],
   templateUrl: './item-relationships.component.html',
   imports: [
-    ThemedLoadingComponent,
+    AlertComponent,
     AsyncPipe,
-    TranslateModule,
-    NgIf,
     EditRelationshipListComponent,
     NgForOf,
+    NgIf,
+    NgTemplateOutlet,
+    ThemedLoadingComponent,
+    TranslateModule,
     VarDirective,
   ],
   standalone: true,
@@ -91,7 +82,13 @@ export class ItemRelationshipsComponent extends AbstractItemUpdateComponent {
   /**
    * The item's entity type as an observable
    */
-  entityType$: Observable<ItemType>;
+  entityType$: BehaviorSubject<ItemType> = new BehaviorSubject(undefined);
+
+  get isSaving$(): BehaviorSubject<boolean> {
+    return this.editItemRelationshipsService.isSaving$;
+  }
+
+  readonly AlertType = AlertType;
 
   constructor(
     public itemService: ItemDataService,
@@ -107,6 +104,7 @@ export class ItemRelationshipsComponent extends AbstractItemUpdateComponent {
     protected relationshipTypeService: RelationshipTypeDataService,
     public cdr: ChangeDetectorRef,
     protected modalService: NgbModal,
+    protected editItemRelationshipsService: EditItemRelationshipsService,
   ) {
     super(itemService, objectUpdatesService, router, notificationsService, translateService, route);
   }
@@ -118,18 +116,18 @@ export class ItemRelationshipsComponent extends AbstractItemUpdateComponent {
 
     const label = this.item.firstMetadataValue('dspace.entity.type');
     if (label !== undefined) {
-      this.relationshipTypes$ = this.relationshipTypeService.searchByEntityType(label, true, true, ...this.getRelationshipTypeFollowLinks())
-        .pipe(
-          map((relationshipTypes: PaginatedList<RelationshipType>) => relationshipTypes.page),
-        );
+      this.relationshipTypes$ = this.relationshipTypeService.searchByEntityType(label, true, true, ...this.getRelationshipTypeFollowLinks()).pipe(
+        map((relationshipTypes: PaginatedList<RelationshipType>) => relationshipTypes.page),
+        distinctUntilChanged(compareArraysUsingIds()),
+      );
 
-      this.entityType$ = this.entityTypeService.getEntityTypeByLabel(label).pipe(
+      this.entityTypeService.getEntityTypeByLabel(label).pipe(
         getFirstSucceededRemoteData(),
         getRemoteDataPayload(),
-      );
+      ).subscribe((type) => this.entityType$.next(type));
 
     } else {
-      this.entityType$ = observableOf(undefined);
+      this.entityType$.next(undefined);
     }
   }
 
@@ -145,127 +143,24 @@ export class ItemRelationshipsComponent extends AbstractItemUpdateComponent {
    * Make sure the lists are refreshed afterwards and notifications are sent for success and errors
    */
   public submit(): void {
-
-    // Get all the relationships that should be removed
-    const removedRelationshipIDs$: Observable<DeleteRelationship[]> = this.relationshipService.getItemRelationshipsArray(this.item).pipe(
-      startWith([]),
-      map((relationships: Relationship[]) => relationships.map((relationship) =>
-        Object.assign(new Relationship(), relationship, { uuid: relationship.id }),
-      )),
-      switchMap((relationships: Relationship[]) => {
-        return this.objectUpdatesService.getFieldUpdatesExclusive(this.url, relationships) as Observable<FieldUpdates>;
-      }),
-      map((fieldUpdates: FieldUpdates) =>
-        Object.values(fieldUpdates)
-          .filter((fieldUpdate: FieldUpdate) => fieldUpdate.changeType === FieldChangeType.REMOVE)
-          .map((fieldUpdate: FieldUpdate) => fieldUpdate.field as DeleteRelationship),
-      ),
-    );
-
-    const addRelatedItems$: Observable<RelationshipIdentifiable[]> = this.objectUpdatesService.getFieldUpdates(this.url, []).pipe(
-      map((fieldUpdates: FieldUpdates) =>
-        Object.values(fieldUpdates)
-          .filter((fieldUpdate: FieldUpdate) => hasValue(fieldUpdate))
-          .filter((fieldUpdate: FieldUpdate) => fieldUpdate.changeType === FieldChangeType.ADD)
-          .map((fieldUpdate: FieldUpdate) => fieldUpdate.field as RelationshipIdentifiable),
-      ),
-    );
-
-    observableCombineLatest(
-      removedRelationshipIDs$,
-      addRelatedItems$,
-    ).pipe(
-      take(1),
-    ).subscribe(([removeRelationshipIDs, addRelatedItems]) => {
-      const actions = [
-        this.deleteRelationships(removeRelationshipIDs),
-        this.addRelationships(addRelatedItems),
-      ];
-      actions.forEach((action) =>
-        action.subscribe((response) => {
-          if (response.length > 0) {
-            this.initializeOriginalFields();
-            this.cdr.detectChanges();
-            this.displayNotifications(response);
-            this.modalService.dismissAll();
-          }
-        }),
-      );
-    });
-  }
-
-  deleteRelationships(deleteRelationshipIDs: DeleteRelationship[]): Observable<RemoteData<NoContent>[]> {
-    return observableZip(...deleteRelationshipIDs.map((deleteRelationship) => {
-      let copyVirtualMetadata: string;
-      if (deleteRelationship.keepLeftVirtualMetadata && deleteRelationship.keepRightVirtualMetadata) {
-        copyVirtualMetadata = 'all';
-      } else if (deleteRelationship.keepLeftVirtualMetadata) {
-        copyVirtualMetadata = 'left';
-      } else if (deleteRelationship.keepRightVirtualMetadata) {
-        copyVirtualMetadata = 'right';
-      } else {
-        copyVirtualMetadata = 'none';
-      }
-      return this.relationshipService.deleteRelationship(deleteRelationship.uuid, copyVirtualMetadata);
-    },
-    ));
+    this.editItemRelationshipsService.submit(this.item, this.url);
   }
 
-  addRelationships(addRelatedItems: RelationshipIdentifiable[]): Observable<RemoteData<Relationship>[]> {
-    return observableZip(...addRelatedItems.map((addRelationship) =>
-      this.entityType$.pipe(
-        switchMap((entityType) => this.entityTypeService.isLeftType(addRelationship.type, entityType)),
-        switchMap((isLeftType) => {
-          let leftItem: Item;
-          let rightItem: Item;
-          let leftwardValue: string;
-          let rightwardValue: string;
-          if (isLeftType) {
-            leftItem = this.item;
-            rightItem = addRelationship.relatedItem;
-            leftwardValue = null;
-            rightwardValue = addRelationship.nameVariant;
-          } else {
-            leftItem = addRelationship.relatedItem;
-            rightItem = this.item;
-            leftwardValue = addRelationship.nameVariant;
-            rightwardValue = null;
-          }
-          return this.relationshipService.addRelationship(addRelationship.type.id, leftItem, rightItem, leftwardValue, rightwardValue);
-        }),
-      ),
-    ));
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * Display notifications
-   * - Error notification for each failed response with their message
-   * - Success notification in case there's at least one successful response
-   * @param responses
-   */
-  displayNotifications(responses: RemoteData<NoContent>[]) {
-    const failedResponses = responses.filter((response: RemoteData<NoContent>) => response.hasFailed);
-    const successfulResponses = responses.filter((response: RemoteData<NoContent>) => response.hasSucceeded);
-
-    failedResponses.forEach((response: RemoteData<NoContent>) => {
-      this.notificationsService.error(this.getNotificationTitle('failed'), response.errorMessage);
-    });
-    if (successfulResponses.length > 0) {
-      this.notificationsService.success(this.getNotificationTitle('saved'), this.getNotificationContent('saved'));
-    }
-  }
   /**
    * Sends all initial values of this item to the object updates service
    */
   public initializeOriginalFields() {
-    return this.relationshipService.getRelatedItems(this.item).pipe(
-      take(1),
-    ).subscribe((items: Item[]) => {
-      this.objectUpdatesService.initialize(this.url, items, this.item.lastModified);
-    });
+    return this.editItemRelationshipsService.initializeOriginalFields(this.item, this.url);
   }
 
 
+  /**
+   * Method to prevent unnecessary for loop re-rendering
+   */
+  trackById(index: number, relationshipType: RelationshipType): string {
+    return relationshipType.id;
+  }
+
   getRelationshipTypeFollowLinks() {
     return [
       followLink('leftType'),
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.html b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.html
index b83b93d8f10..927f7dbb48d 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.html
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.html
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
         </button>
     </div>
     <div class="modal-body">
-        <ng-container *ngFor="let item of items; trackBy: trackItem">
-            <div *ngVar="(isSelectedVirtualMetadataItem(item) | async) as selected"
-                 (click)="setSelectedVirtualMetadataItem(item, !selected)"
+        <ng-container *ngFor="let itemDTO of itemDTOs$ | async; trackBy: trackItemDTO">
+            <div *ngVar="(itemDTO.isSelectedVirtualMetadataItem$ | async) as selected"
+                 (click)="setSelectedVirtualMetadataItem(itemDTO.item, !selected)"
                  class="item d-flex flex-row">
                 <div class="m-2">
                     <label>
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
                     </label>
                 </div>
                 <div class="flex-column">
-                    <ds-listable-object-component-loader [object]="item">
+                    <ds-listable-object-component-loader [object]="itemDTO.item">
                     </ds-listable-object-component-loader>
-                    <div *ngFor="let metadata of virtualMetadata.get(item.uuid)">
+                    <div *ngFor="let metadata of virtualMetadata.get(itemDTO.item.uuid)">
                         <div class="font-weight-bold">
                             {{metadata.metadataField}}
                         </div>
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
         <div class="d-flex flex-row-reverse m-2">
             <button class="btn btn-primary save"
                     (click)="save.emit()">
-                <i class="fas fa-save"></i> {{"item.edit.metadata.save-button" | translate}}
+                <i aria-hidden="true" class="fas fa-save"></i> {{ 'item.edit.metadata.save-button' | translate }}
             </button>
         </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.spec.ts b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.spec.ts
index 66727871c01..e02df167f50 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.spec.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ describe('VirtualMetadataComponent', () => {
     comp.url = url;
     comp.leftItem = item;
     comp.rightItem = relatedItem;
+    comp.ngOnChanges();
     comp.relationshipId = relationshipId;
 
     fixture.detectChanges();
diff --git a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.ts b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.ts
index 11c9a291f86..e8f42c8fc0c 100644
--- a/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/item-page/edit-item-page/virtual-metadata/virtual-metadata.component.ts
@@ -8,11 +8,17 @@ import {
   EventEmitter,
   Inject,
   Input,
+  OnChanges,
+  OnDestroy,
   OnInit,
   Output,
 } from '@angular/core';
 import { TranslateModule } from '@ngx-translate/core';
-import { Observable } from 'rxjs';
+import {
+  BehaviorSubject,
+  Observable,
+  Subscription,
+} from 'rxjs';
 
 import {
   APP_CONFIG,
@@ -21,9 +27,18 @@ import {
 import { ObjectUpdatesService } from '../../../core/data/object-updates/object-updates.service';
 import { Item } from '../../../core/shared/item.model';
 import { MetadataValue } from '../../../core/shared/metadata.models';
+import { hasValue } from '../../../shared/empty.util';
 import { ListableObjectComponentLoaderComponent } from '../../../shared/object-collection/shared/listable-object/listable-object-component-loader.component';
 import { VarDirective } from '../../../shared/utils/var.directive';
 
+interface ItemDTO {
+
+  item: Item;
+
+  isSelectedVirtualMetadataItem$: Observable<boolean>;
+
+}
+
 @Component({
   selector: 'ds-virtual-metadata',
   templateUrl: './virtual-metadata.component.html',
@@ -42,7 +57,7 @@ import { VarDirective } from '../../../shared/utils/var.directive';
  * The component is shown when a relationship is marked to be deleted.
  * Each item has a checkbox to indicate whether its virtual metadata should be saved as real metadata.
  */
-export class VirtualMetadataComponent implements OnInit {
+export class VirtualMetadataComponent implements OnInit, OnChanges, OnDestroy {
 
   /**
    * The current url of this page
@@ -83,9 +98,9 @@ export class VirtualMetadataComponent implements OnInit {
   /**
    * Get an array of the left and the right item of the relationship to be deleted.
    */
-  get items() {
-    return [this.leftItem, this.rightItem];
-  }
+  itemDTOs$: BehaviorSubject<ItemDTO[]> = new BehaviorSubject([]);
+
+  subs: Subscription[] = [];
 
   public virtualMetadata: Map<string, VirtualMetadata[]> = new Map<string, VirtualMetadata[]>();
 
@@ -137,14 +152,33 @@ export class VirtualMetadataComponent implements OnInit {
   /**
    * Prevent unnecessary rerendering so fields don't lose focus
    */
-  trackItem(index, item: Item) {
-    return item && item.uuid;
+  trackItemDTO(index, itemDTO: ItemDTO): string {
+    return itemDTO?.item?.uuid;
   }
 
   ngOnInit(): void {
-    this.items.forEach((item) => {
-      this.virtualMetadata.set(item.uuid, this.getVirtualMetadata(item));
-    });
+    this.subs.push(this.itemDTOs$.subscribe((itemDTOs: ItemDTO[]) => {
+      itemDTOs.forEach((itemDTO: ItemDTO) => this.virtualMetadata.set(itemDTO.item.uuid, this.getVirtualMetadata(itemDTO.item)));
+    }));
+  }
+
+  ngOnChanges(): void {
+    if (hasValue(this.leftItem) && hasValue(this.rightItem)) {
+      this.itemDTOs$.next([
+        {
+          item: this.leftItem,
+          isSelectedVirtualMetadataItem$: this.isSelectedVirtualMetadataItem(this.leftItem),
+        },
+        {
+          item: this.rightItem,
+          isSelectedVirtualMetadataItem$: this.isSelectedVirtualMetadataItem(this.rightItem),
+        },
+      ]);
+    }
+  }
+
+  ngOnDestroy(): void {
+    this.subs.forEach((sub: Subscription) => sub.unsubscribe());
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/dynamic-lookup-relation-modal.component.html b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/dynamic-lookup-relation-modal.component.html
index e467cc33285..112175d8066 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/dynamic-lookup-relation-modal.component.html
+++ b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/dynamic-lookup-relation-modal.component.html
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ <h4 class="modal-title" id="modal-title">{{ ('submission.sections.describe.relat
                 </ng-template>
             </li>
             <li ngbNavItem *ngFor="let source of (externalSourcesRD$ | async); let idx = index" role="presentation">
-                <a ngbNavLink>{{'submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.search-tab.tab-title.' + source.id | translate  : { count: (totalExternal$ | async)[idx] } }}</a>
+                <a ngbNavLink>{{'submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.search-tab.tab-title.' + source.id | translate  : { count: (totalExternal$ | async)?.[idx] } }}</a>
                 <ng-template ngbNavContent>
                     <ds-dynamic-lookup-relation-external-source-tab
                             [label]="label"
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ <h4 class="modal-title" id="modal-title">{{ ('submission.sections.describe.relat
               (click)="submitEv()">
               <span *ngIf="isPending" class="spinner-border spinner-border-sm" role="status"
                               aria-hidden="true"></span>
-              <i class="fas fa-save"></i>
+              <i *ngIf="!isPending" class="fas fa-save"></i>
         <span class="d-none d-sm-inline">&nbsp;{{"item.edit.metadata.save-button" | translate}}</span>
       </button>
     </ng-container>
diff --git a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/dynamic-lookup-relation-modal.component.ts b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/dynamic-lookup-relation-modal.component.ts
index 201f3a21ff3..301e3eeeb6a 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/dynamic-lookup-relation-modal.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/dynamic-lookup-relation-modal.component.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import { PaginatedList } from '../../../../../core/data/paginated-list.model';
 import { RelationshipDataService } from '../../../../../core/data/relationship-data.service';
 import { RelationshipTypeDataService } from '../../../../../core/data/relationship-type-data.service';
 import { Context } from '../../../../../core/shared/context.model';
+import { DSpaceObject } from '../../../../../core/shared/dspace-object.model';
 import { ExternalSource } from '../../../../../core/shared/external-source.model';
 import { Item } from '../../../../../core/shared/item.model';
 import { RelationshipType } from '../../../../../core/shared/item-relationships/relationship-type.model';
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ import {
   isNotEmpty,
 } from '../../../../empty.util';
 import { ThemedLoadingComponent } from '../../../../loading/themed-loading.component';
+import { ItemSearchResult } from '../../../../object-collection/shared/item-search-result.model';
 import { ListableObject } from '../../../../object-collection/shared/listable-object.model';
 import { SelectableListState } from '../../../../object-list/selectable-list/selectable-list.reducer';
 import { SelectableListService } from '../../../../object-list/selectable-list/selectable-list.service';
@@ -193,12 +195,12 @@ export class DsDynamicLookupRelationModalComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy
   /**
    * Maintain the list of the related items to be added
    */
-  toAdd = [];
+  toAdd: ItemSearchResult[] = [];
 
   /**
    * Maintain the list of the related items to be removed
    */
-  toRemove = [];
+  toRemove: ItemSearchResult[] = [];
 
   /**
    * Disable buttons while the submit button is pressed
@@ -282,7 +284,7 @@ export class DsDynamicLookupRelationModalComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy
    * Select (a list of) objects and add them to the store
    * @param selectableObjects
    */
-  select(...selectableObjects: SearchResult<Item>[]) {
+  select(...selectableObjects: SearchResult<DSpaceObject>[]) {
     this.zone.runOutsideAngular(
       () => {
         const obs: Observable<any[]> = observableCombineLatest([...selectableObjects.map((sri: SearchResult<Item>) => {
@@ -325,11 +327,11 @@ export class DsDynamicLookupRelationModalComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy
    * Deselect (a list of) objects and remove them from the store
    * @param selectableObjects
    */
-  deselect(...selectableObjects: SearchResult<Item>[]) {
+  deselect(...selectableObjects: SearchResult<DSpaceObject>[]) {
     this.zone.runOutsideAngular(
       () => selectableObjects.forEach((object) => {
         this.subMap[object.indexableObject.uuid].unsubscribe();
-        this.store.dispatch(new RemoveRelationshipAction(this.item, object.indexableObject, this.relationshipOptions.relationshipType, this.submissionId));
+        this.store.dispatch(new RemoveRelationshipAction(this.item, object.indexableObject as Item, this.relationshipOptions.relationshipType, this.submissionId));
       }),
     );
   }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/search-tab/dynamic-lookup-relation-search-tab.component.ts b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/search-tab/dynamic-lookup-relation-search-tab.component.ts
index 06b4946e124..e2654d079dc 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/search-tab/dynamic-lookup-relation-search-tab.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/search-tab/dynamic-lookup-relation-search-tab.component.ts
@@ -132,12 +132,12 @@ export class DsDynamicLookupRelationSearchTabComponent implements OnInit, OnDest
   /**
    * Send an event to deselect an object from the list
    */
-  @Output() deselectObject: EventEmitter<ListableObject> = new EventEmitter<ListableObject>();
+  @Output() deselectObject: EventEmitter<SearchResult<DSpaceObject>> = new EventEmitter();
 
   /**
    * Send an event to select an object from the list
    */
-  @Output() selectObject: EventEmitter<ListableObject> = new EventEmitter<ListableObject>();
+  @Output() selectObject: EventEmitter<SearchResult<DSpaceObject>> = new EventEmitter();
 
   /**
    * Search results
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ export class DsDynamicLookupRelationSearchTabComponent implements OnInit, OnDest
     this.selection$
       .pipe(take(1))
       .subscribe((selection: SearchResult<Item>[]) => {
-        const filteredPage = page.filter((pageItem) => selection.findIndex((selected) => selected.equals(pageItem)) < 0);
+        const filteredPage: SearchResult<DSpaceObject>[] = page.filter((pageItem: SearchResult<DSpaceObject>) => selection.findIndex((selected: SearchResult<Item>) => selected.equals(pageItem)) < 0);
         this.selectObject.emit(...filteredPage);
       });
     this.selectableListService.select(this.listId, page);
diff --git a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/search-tab/themed-dynamic-lookup-relation-search-tab.component.ts b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/search-tab/themed-dynamic-lookup-relation-search-tab.component.ts
index 71d55e6494d..756fee20172 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/search-tab/themed-dynamic-lookup-relation-search-tab.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/search-tab/themed-dynamic-lookup-relation-search-tab.component.ts
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ export class ThemedDynamicLookupRelationSearchTabComponent extends ThemedCompone
 
   @Input() isEditRelationship: boolean;
 
-  @Output() deselectObject: EventEmitter<ListableObject> = new EventEmitter();
+  @Output() deselectObject: EventEmitter<SearchResult<DSpaceObject>> = new EventEmitter();
 
-  @Output() selectObject: EventEmitter<ListableObject> = new EventEmitter();
+  @Output() selectObject: EventEmitter<SearchResult<DSpaceObject>> = new EventEmitter();
 
   @Output() resultFound: EventEmitter<SearchObjects<DSpaceObject>> = new EventEmitter();
 
diff --git a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/selection-tab/dynamic-lookup-relation-selection-tab.component.ts b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/selection-tab/dynamic-lookup-relation-selection-tab.component.ts
index d1e516513b1..01cf844e062 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/selection-tab/dynamic-lookup-relation-selection-tab.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/selection-tab/dynamic-lookup-relation-selection-tab.component.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
 import { RemoteData } from '../../../../../../core/data/remote-data';
 import { PaginationService } from '../../../../../../core/pagination/pagination.service';
 import { Context } from '../../../../../../core/shared/context.model';
+import { DSpaceObject } from '../../../../../../core/shared/dspace-object.model';
 import { PageInfo } from '../../../../../../core/shared/page-info.model';
 import { SearchConfigurationService } from '../../../../../../core/shared/search/search-configuration.service';
 import { SEARCH_CONFIG_SERVICE } from '../../../../../../my-dspace-page/my-dspace-configuration.service';
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ import { PageSizeSelectorComponent } from '../../../../../page-size-selector/pag
 import { PaginationComponentOptions } from '../../../../../pagination/pagination-component-options.model';
 import { createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject } from '../../../../../remote-data.utils';
 import { PaginatedSearchOptions } from '../../../../../search/models/paginated-search-options.model';
+import { SearchResult } from '../../../../../search/models/search-result.model';
 
 @Component({
   selector: 'ds-dynamic-lookup-relation-selection-tab',
@@ -91,12 +93,12 @@ export class DsDynamicLookupRelationSelectionTabComponent {
   /**
    * Send an event to deselect an object from the list
    */
-  @Output() deselectObject: EventEmitter<ListableObject> = new EventEmitter<ListableObject>();
+  @Output() deselectObject: EventEmitter<SearchResult<DSpaceObject>> = new EventEmitter();
 
   /**
    * Send an event to select an object from the list
    */
-  @Output() selectObject: EventEmitter<ListableObject> = new EventEmitter<ListableObject>();
+  @Output() selectObject: EventEmitter<SearchResult<DSpaceObject>> = new EventEmitter();
 
   /**
    * The initial pagination to use
diff --git a/src/app/shared/testing/base-data-service.stub.ts b/src/app/shared/testing/base-data-service.stub.ts
index 3df661ba5b7..65b761ba712 100644
--- a/src/app/shared/testing/base-data-service.stub.ts
+++ b/src/app/shared/testing/base-data-service.stub.ts
@@ -4,12 +4,19 @@ import {
 } from 'rxjs';
 
 import { CacheableObject } from '../../core/cache/cacheable-object.model';
+import { RemoteData } from '../../core/data/remote-data';
+import { createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$ } from '../remote-data.utils';
+import { FollowLinkConfig } from '../utils/follow-link-config.model';
 
 /**
  * Stub class for {@link BaseDataService}
  */
 export abstract class BaseDataServiceStub<T extends CacheableObject> {
 
+  findByHref(_href$: string | Observable<string>, _useCachedVersionIfAvailable = true, _reRequestOnStale = true, ..._linksToFollow: FollowLinkConfig<T>[]): Observable<RemoteData<T>> {
+    return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(undefined);
+  }
+
   invalidateByHref(_href: string): Observable<boolean> {
     return observableOf(true);
   }
diff --git a/src/app/shared/testing/edit-item-relationships.service.stub.ts b/src/app/shared/testing/edit-item-relationships.service.stub.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1d295697936
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/shared/testing/edit-item-relationships.service.stub.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/* eslint-disable no-empty, @typescript-eslint/no-empty-function */
+import {
+  Observable,
+  Subscription,
+} from 'rxjs';
+
+import {
+  DeleteRelationship,
+  RelationshipIdentifiable,
+} from '../../core/data/object-updates/object-updates.reducer';
+import { RemoteData } from '../../core/data/remote-data';
+import { Item } from '../../core/shared/item.model';
+import { Relationship } from '../../core/shared/item-relationships/relationship.model';
+import { NoContent } from '../../core/shared/NoContent.model';
+import { createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$ } from '../remote-data.utils';
+
+/**
+ * Stub class of {@link EditItemRelationshipsService}
+ */
+export class EditItemRelationshipsServiceStub {
+
+  submit(_item: Item, _url: string): void {
+  }
+
+  initializeOriginalFields(_item: Item, _url: string): Subscription {
+    return new Subscription();
+  }
+
+  deleteRelationship(_deleteRelationship: DeleteRelationship): Observable<RemoteData<NoContent>> {
+    return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$({});
+  }
+
+  addRelationship(_addRelationship: RelationshipIdentifiable): Observable<RemoteData<Relationship>> {
+    return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(undefined);
+  }
+
+  displayNotifications(_responses: RemoteData<NoContent>[]): void {
+  }
+
+  getNotificationTitle(_key: string): string {
+    return '';
+  }
+
+  getNotificationContent(_key: string): string {
+    return '';
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/app/shared/testing/entity-type-data.service.stub.ts b/src/app/shared/testing/entity-type-data.service.stub.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..367eeb5f743
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/shared/testing/entity-type-data.service.stub.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+/**
+ * Stub class of {@link EntityTypeDataService}
+ */
+export class EntityTypeDataServiceStub {
+}
diff --git a/src/app/shared/testing/item-data.service.stub.ts b/src/app/shared/testing/item-data.service.stub.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eed5d4bb119
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/shared/testing/item-data.service.stub.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import { Item } from '../../core/shared/item.model';
+import { IdentifiableDataServiceStub } from './identifiable-data-service.stub';
+
+/**
+ * Stub class of {@link ItemDataService}
+ */
+export class ItemDataServiceStub extends IdentifiableDataServiceStub<Item> {
+}
diff --git a/src/app/shared/testing/object-updates.service.stub.ts b/src/app/shared/testing/object-updates.service.stub.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c66cc3aa0dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/shared/testing/object-updates.service.stub.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/* eslint-disable no-empty, @typescript-eslint/no-empty-function */
+import {
+  Observable,
+  of as observableOf,
+} from 'rxjs';
+
+import { FieldUpdates } from '../../core/data/object-updates/field-updates.model';
+import { Identifiable } from '../../core/data/object-updates/identifiable.model';
+import { PatchOperationService } from '../../core/data/object-updates/patch-operation-service/patch-operation.service';
+import { GenericConstructor } from '../../core/shared/generic-constructor';
+
+/**
+ * Stub class of {@link ObjectUpdatesService}
+ */
+export class ObjectUpdatesServiceStub {
+
+  initialize(_url: string, _fields: Identifiable[], _lastModified: Date, _patchOperationService?: GenericConstructor<PatchOperationService>): void {
+  }
+
+  getFieldUpdates(_url: string, _initialFields: Identifiable[], _ignoreStates?: boolean): Observable<FieldUpdates> {
+    return observableOf({});
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/app/shared/testing/relationship-data.service.stub.ts b/src/app/shared/testing/relationship-data.service.stub.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f0463b3e6ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/shared/testing/relationship-data.service.stub.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+/* eslint-disable no-empty, @typescript-eslint/no-empty-function */
+import {
+  Observable,
+  of as observableOf,
+} from 'rxjs';
+
+import { FindListOptions } from '../../core/data/find-list-options.model';
+import { PaginatedList } from '../../core/data/paginated-list.model';
+import { RemoteData } from '../../core/data/remote-data';
+import { DSpaceObject } from '../../core/shared/dspace-object.model';
+import { Item } from '../../core/shared/item.model';
+import { Relationship } from '../../core/shared/item-relationships/relationship.model';
+import { MetadataValue } from '../../core/shared/metadata.models';
+import { MetadataRepresentation } from '../../core/shared/metadata-representation/metadata-representation.model';
+import { NoContent } from '../../core/shared/NoContent.model';
+import { createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$ } from '../remote-data.utils';
+import { FollowLinkConfig } from '../utils/follow-link-config.model';
+
+/**
+ * Stub class of {@link RelationshipDataService}
+ */
+export class RelationshipDataServiceStub {
+
+  deleteRelationship(_id: string, _copyVirtualMetadata: string, _shouldRefresh = true): Observable<RemoteData<NoContent>> {
+    return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$({});
+  }
+
+  addRelationship(_typeId: string, _item1: Item, _item2: Item, _leftwardValue?: string, _rightwardValue?: string, _shouldRefresh = true): Observable<RemoteData<Relationship>> {
+    return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(new Relationship());
+  }
+
+  refreshRelationshipItemsInCache(_item: Item): void {
+  }
+
+  getItemRelationshipsArray(_item: Item, ..._linksToFollow: FollowLinkConfig<Relationship>[]): Observable<Relationship[]> {
+    return observableOf([]);
+  }
+
+  getRelatedItems(_item: Item): Observable<Item[]> {
+    return observableOf([]);
+  }
+
+  getRelatedItemsByLabel(_item: Item, _label: string, _options?: FindListOptions): Observable<RemoteData<PaginatedList<Item>>> {
+    return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(new PaginatedList<Item>());
+  }
+
+  getItemRelationshipsByLabel(_item: Item, _label: string, _options?: FindListOptions, _useCachedVersionIfAvailable = true, _reRequestOnStale = true, ..._linksToFollow: FollowLinkConfig<Relationship>[]): Observable<RemoteData<PaginatedList<Relationship>>> {
+    return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(new PaginatedList<Relationship>());
+  }
+
+  getRelationshipByItemsAndLabel(_item1: Item, _item2: Item, _label: string, _options?: FindListOptions): Observable<Relationship> {
+    return observableOf(new Relationship());
+  }
+
+  setNameVariant(_listID: string, _itemID: string, _nameVariant: string): void {
+  }
+
+  getNameVariant(_listID: string, _itemID: string): Observable<string> {
+    return observableOf('');
+  }
+
+  updateNameVariant(_item1: Item, _item2: Item, _relationshipLabel: string, _nameVariant: string): Observable<RemoteData<Relationship>> {
+    return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(new Relationship());
+  }
+
+  isLeftItem(_relationship: Relationship, _item: Item): Observable<boolean> {
+    return observableOf(false);
+  }
+
+  update(_object: Relationship): Observable<RemoteData<Relationship>> {
+    return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(new Relationship());
+  }
+
+  searchByItemsAndType(_typeId: string, _itemUuid: string, _relationshipLabel: string, _arrayOfItemIds: string[]): Observable<RemoteData<PaginatedList<Relationship>>> {
+    return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(new PaginatedList<Relationship>());
+  }
+
+  searchBy(_searchMethod: string, _options?: FindListOptions, _useCachedVersionIfAvailable?: boolean, _reRequestOnStale?: boolean, ..._linksToFollow: FollowLinkConfig<Relationship>[]): Observable<RemoteData<PaginatedList<Relationship>>> {
+    return createSuccessfulRemoteDataObject$(new PaginatedList<Relationship>());
+  }
+
+  resolveMetadataRepresentation(_metadatum: MetadataValue, _parentItem: DSpaceObject, _itemType: string): Observable<MetadataRepresentation> {
+    return observableOf({} as MetadataRepresentation);
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/assets/i18n/en.json5 b/src/assets/i18n/en.json5
index a9529900c2d..7a9b87cb4b0 100644
--- a/src/assets/i18n/en.json5
+++ b/src/assets/i18n/en.json5
@@ -3664,6 +3664,8 @@
 
   "orgunit.page.ror": "ROR Identifier",
 
+  "orgunit.search.results.head": "Organizational Unit Search Results",
+
   "pagination.options.description": "Pagination options",
 
   "pagination.results-per-page": "Results Per Page",