The main purpose of the Homewood Institutional Review Board (HIRB) is to protect the rights and welfare of human research participants. One way HIRB protects participants is to ensure that their participation is voluntary. This page contains resources to inform potential volunteers about participating in a research study.
The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) is a Federal division that also works to protect the rights, welfare, and wellbeing of volunteers who participate in research supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). OHRP has compiled a set of informational resources, including videos and checklists, to help potential volunteers in research make the decisions that are right for them and their family.
Please visit the following website for further information:
http://www.hhs.gov/About-Research-Participation.
These brochures are designed to help participants decide whether to participate in research:
- OHRP Brochure: Becoming a Research Volunteer: It’s Your Decision
- FDA Brochure: Become a Research Volunteer
Before agreeing to participate, participants should consider the following questions:
For most studies, people must read and sign an informed consent form if they wish to participate. The link below is to a guide that is designed to help participants understand informed consent forms. It is written for participants considering enrollment in a clinical trial, a type of medical study, but much of it also applies to other types of research.
Below is a link to a detailed booklet that describes what people should know before they decide to participate in a research study. It is written for participants considering enrolling in a clinical trial, a type of medical study, but much of it also applies to other types of research. It includes a checklist of questions for participants to consider before enrolling.
If you have questions, concerns, or complaints about your involvement in a research study, please contact Laura Evans, Director, Homewood IRB, at 410-516-4820 or levans22@jhu.edu.