Who Oversees the Regulations to Protect Research Participants?

Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP)

NIHCDC

OHRP is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). OHRP oversees and enforces the Common Rule and other HHS regulations for protecting participants in research that is funded with HHS money.

HHS agencies include, for example, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researching involving humans that is funded by these agencies falls under OHRP’s oversight. Research funded by other Federal departments that follow the Common Rule is overseen by the respective departments.

  • OHRP works with institutions to ensure compliance with the regulations and responds to complaints about potential violations.
  • OHRP provides clarification and guidance about the regulations.
  • OHRP educates researchers and institutional staff on ethical expectations for conducting research with humans, Common Rule requirements, and the additional requirements in subparts B, C and D of the HHS regulations.
  • OHRP provides the general public information about research participation.

Check out our About Research Participation website for more information.

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