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OHRP has compiled external resources about research and research participation. These resources provide additional information and reflect a range of perspectives and experiences.
Note that the inclusion of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Government, HHS, or OHRP of the linked web resources or the information, products, or services contained therein. This graphic notice, 
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Glossary of Terms
This link takes you to a glossary of common terms used in clinical research:
Commonly Asked Questions Explained
What is Human Subjects Research
It is research that involves people. Investigators do research to answer questions and gain knowledge that they hope will benefit society. Investigators may do things to research participants with their agreement or ask participants to do specific activities and obtain information (such as health information) or biological samples (such as blood) from them to answer the research questions.
For example, investigators may give participants new medicines to take, collect their blood, and obtain their information to see whether the new medicine is safe and works. Investigators may also ask participants to view different images to see how they respond emotionally. These are both examples of research that involve people, or human subjects research. In addition, investigators may simply study the information or biological samples already collected from people, for example, from routine medical care.
There are different kinds of human subjects research, explore the links below to learn more!
To learn more about research and research participation, review the short videos at https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/education-and-outreach/about-research-participation/informational-videos/index.html.
You can also read the infographics at https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/education-and-outreach/about-research-participation/protecting-research-volunteers/index.html to learn more about how research participants are protected.
If you are looking for the policies and regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on human subjects protections in research, check out the website at https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/index.html. If you are looking for the regulatory definition for human subjects research, click here.
Relevant Federal Resources
Below are links to several resources related to human subjects research from agencies in the Federal government:
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry and database of current clinical studies.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Information for patients in clinical trials.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Information on minority health with information about
participating in clinical trials.
Basic Research Concepts
On the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) website.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Information about participating in clinical trials.
Media and Other Resources
Below is a selection of materials from public media sources about research and research participation.
Health News Review publishes critical analyses and reviews
using a defined set of criteria intended to promote the interests
of the general public. Visit https://www.healthnewsreview.org/
Could gene therapy cure sickle cell anemia?
60 Minutes on CBS, December 29, 2019.
Can Hypothermia Save Gunshot Victims?
By Nicola Twilley
The New Yorker, November 28, 2016.
Do Clinical Trials Work?
By Clifton Leaf
New York Times, July 13, 2013.
Twitterology: A New Science?
By Ben Zimmer
New York Times, October 29, 2011.
Please let us know if these materials are useful by completing the survey below. In addition, we welcome your feedback via email at [email protected].
