All FIU research involving human subjects undergoes rigorous review prior to the start of any project. Ethical principles underlying research with humans were established in the Belmont Report. Three basic principles from the Belmont Report – respect for persons, beneficence, and justice – guide human subjects research at FIU and other research organizations.

Rights of Participants

As a participant in a research project, you have rights that must be respected by the research team. These rights include:

• The right to have the purpose of the research and all the procedures explained to you ahead of time.
• The right to be treated with respect.
• The right to have the risks and benefits of participation explained to you.
• Freedom to withdraw from participation in a study at any time without penalty.
• The right to consent or decline to participate. You must have the time to ask questions and be told who to contact if you have any further questions.
• The right to a copy of the consent after you sign it.
• If appropriate, the right to be informed of any alternative procedures available and the relative risks and benefits of these alternatives.
• If appropriate, the right to be informed about medical treatment available if complications should arise as a result of the study.

Resources of Participants (English)

• About Research Participation: Resources from the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP)
• Becoming a Research Volunteer: OHRP Pamphlet on Becoming a Research Volunteer
• Clinical Research Trials and You: Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Clinicaltrials.gov Listing of Clinical Trials: Sponsored by the NIH
• An Introduction to Clinical Trials: Sponsored by NIH
• Learning about Clinical Trials: Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute/NIH

Resources of Participants (Spanish)

• Convertirse en un voluntario de la investigacion: Folleto OHRP en convertirse en un voluntario de Investigacion.
• Ensayos clinicos: Informacion de los NIH.