Information for research participants
Research studies help us understand ourselves
Together with medical researchers, human research volunteers have made every clinical breakthrough from the beginning of the modern medical era possible. Thanks to human subjects, we have a better understanding of many aspects of medicine, including:
- How our bodies work to keep us healthy
- Different ways we can fight disease
- How we can prevent future problems from happening
You may choose to participate in research to make a difference in the lives of people dealing with illness. Or you may volunteer because you or someone you know has a serious medical condition. Whatever your reasons, we value and appreciate your dedication to changing health care for the better.
Read this letter from Nick Turkal, MD, President and CEO of Aurora Health Care [PDF] to hear his thoughts about protecting and respecting research participants during all types of research.
The role of the Research Subject Protection Program & Institutional Review Board
Our Research Subject Protection Program (RSPP) oversees all research involving human subjects performed at any Aurora location. Our Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an important part of our RSPP.
Members of our IRB review and approve research proposals to make sure researchers meet our ethical and legal standards. Our goal is to maintain the highest level of ethics and professionalism during research studies.
Our IRB also protects the rights, dignity and welfare of people participating in human subject research at or in collaboration with Aurora. We stick to strict policies and procedures to follow all federal, state, and local research laws and regulations.
Learn more about Aurora RSPP/IRB.
Keeping research participants safe
The government also protects you in two major ways:
- 1979 law: Congress passed a law in 1979 protecting all people who participate in research. They passed this law in response to unethical treatment toward research participants.
- FDA and HHS oversight: Various departments in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) create laws and regulations to protect human subjects participating in research.
Exploring research involving human subjects
Watch instructional videos, view additional resources and find out more about research participation on the HHS website.
Learn more about Aurora’s research studies at the Aurora Research Institute.
Contact the RSPP/IRB office
We’re here to answer your research documentation questions. Contact us
How to participate
Find out more about ways to participate in research. Participate
Make a donation
Your donation can help fund critical research or help to develop new medical products. Donate now
Publications
Advancing medical knowledge through our very own journal. Journal of patient-centered research and reviews