For Research Participants

Thank you for your interest in research! Many areas of research, both behavioral and biomedical, are possible only if people agree to be studied as part of the research. Those who volunteer to participate in research as human subjects help to benefit others, as well as society at large.

Participation in research is voluntary; that means you don’t have to join or remain in a study. We hope the following “Frequently Asked Questions” will be helpful.

The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) website also has information about participating in research and making informed decisions including Questions to Ask About Volunteering for a Research Study.

 

I signed a consent form for a study and now I have more questions.

Your consent form has a list of the researchers with their contact information. Questions that are related to a particular research study should be directed to these researchers.

I signed a consent form to be in a study but I’ve changed my mind.

Research is voluntary and you do not have to join or stay in a research study unless you want to. If you aren’t comfortable calling the researcher or the research staff, call or email the UW Human Subjects Division: 206-543-0098 or hsdreprt@uw.edu. We will help you. This includes informing the researcher on your behalf about your decision.

I received a letter about joining a research study but I don’t want to do it or have anyone to call me about it.

The letter should have a phone number and/or and email address for you to use, to let the researcher know your decision. If you can’t find a phone number or email address, you can call or email us: 206-543-0098 or hsdreprt@uw.edu. We will need some information from the materials you received so we can identify the study and help you.

What if I have a concern or complaint?

Call or email us: 206-543-0098 or hsdreprt@uw.edu. We will help identify the study in question and work with you to resolve your concern.

I saw a flyer saying that they will pay for each study visit. Is it a scam?

Call or email us at 206-543-0098 or hsdreprt@uw.edu. We can help you find out whether the study is “real” and approved by the UW. If it isn’t, we may be able to help you find out who is doing the research.

How do I find research studies I may be interested in?

These websites list studies looking for participants:

• For research studies at the University of Washington: Research Participant Link
• For all clinical research in the U.S.: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
• For a user-friendly interface to ClinicalTrials.gov built by Vanderbilt University: http://www.trialstoday.org/
• For cancer-related research studies:
  • American Cancer Society
  • Children’s Oncology Group
  • National Cancer Institute

How can I donate my brain or body to research?

• Brain Donation
• Willed Body Program

I was in a study years ago and want to know the results.

If you have the contact information for the researchers who lead the study, call them first. If you don’t have their contact information, call or email us at 206-543-0098 or hsdreprt@uw.edu. We will need as much information as you can remember in order to help you find the researchers who may be able to answer your questions.

My consent form says an “Institutional Review Board” approved the study.

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a small group of people who review human research studies to make sure they are done properly according to federal and state laws that protect the human participants. The research can’t be started until the IRB has approved it. The members of the UW IRB include a mix of scientists, healthcare providers, and a non-scientist. Most of them are part of the UW, but there are always some who are from the community and who have no connection with the UW.