Protection of Research Participants
The University of Michigan is required, by federal law and our "assurance" with government, to protect research participants and their rights.
One way the University of Michigan protects research participants is to have research overseen by an Institutional Review Board or "IRB." The University of Michigan Medical School IRB is called IRBMED.
The purpose of the IRBMED is to promote the protection of human participants in research conducted at the Medical School, Hospitals, and Health Centers, including research conducted off-site. The IRBMED protects the rights and welfare of participants in clinical trials and other human subjects research studies by careful review and monitoring of research in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and University policies.
This means the IRBMED helps the researcher minimize the risks of the research. IRBMED reviews the informed consent document or process for each study to see if it contains all the information you need to make a decision. This includes the risks of the research, how much time it takes, and what costs could be charged to you.
If you have a concern about a research study, contact the IRBMED as listed below, or by call the University of Michigan Compliance Hotline at 1-866-990-0111.
IRBMED
2800 Plymouth Road
Building 520, Room 3214G
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800
Telephone: 734-763-4768
Fax: 734-763-1234
e-mail: [email protected]
The following federal government resources are helpful in understanding research, your rights as a subject, and what you should consider before joining a study.
Office of Human Research Protections
- Becoming a Research Volunteer-It's Your Decision (PDF)
- Ser Voluntario en Estudios Clínicos: Es Su Decisión (PDF)
- Questions to Ask Before You Agree to Participate in Research
National Institutes of Health
National Cancer Institute
- A Guide to Understanding Informed Consent
- Estudios clínicos: preguntas y respuestas
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
US Food and Drug Administration
- Why Volunteer? Clinical Trial Medical Treatments (for Spanish version click Español)
- Should Your Child Be in a Clinical Trial
Research Studies at the University of Michigan
UMHealthResearch.org is the gateway to research studies throughout the University of Michigan. New studies seeking volunteers are added to the site each day.
The University of Michigan Office of Research provides information for study subjects.
Information about other research studies currently recruiting participants is available at the links below and through clinicians in the University of Michigan Health System.
- Program for Neurology Research and Discovery (including ALS, Neuropathy, Alzheimers, Diabetes, and more)
- Cancer
- Ophthalmology (research about the eye)
- Depression Center
2800 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800
IRBMED has full accreditation by they Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc.
