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Public Health and Research Regulation

Patricia M. Alt, PhD, Health Science, Towson University, 8000 York Rd., Towson, MD 21252, 410-704-4221, palt@towson.edu

As human subjects research is being conducted in an ever wider array of public and private organizations, a typology of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) is necessary to better understand ways in which to ethically balance the needs of research and the protection of individuals whose care or information is in the purview of public agencies. This presentation provides such a typology, along with a discussion of the ethical underpinnings for shared or deferred review by multiple affected IRBs in cases involving: more or less dangerous research projects; the potential for coercion (of public health clinic patients, for example); direct public funding and/or administration of the research vs. privately funded or administered research using public clients; choices to be made where several levels of potential review exist; and research or funding areas with a strong likelihood of conflicts of interest. A central ethical question raised is whether public or private; Federal, state, or local; for-profit or non-profit; governmental, academic, or medical review entities are more or less likely to adequately protect the subjects of public health research.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant will be able to

Keywords: Ethics, Public Health Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Research and the Public Interest

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA