Other Resources
Please scroll down to view our many different resource topics or simply click on the links below to be immediately taken to a specific area:
General Information About Clinical Research
Information for Scientists
Clinical Research Training
Organizations
General Information about Clinical Research
Definition of Clinical Research
What is clinical research?; What is meant by translational research and experimental medicine? Why is clinical research important? These questions are answered on this site from the Medical Research Council.
Glossary of Terms
From the New York University of General Clinical Research Center, this glossary gives an overview of many terms related to clinical research. A more comprehensive dictionary, aimed at both scientists and the public can be found here, through the University of Michigan’s Center for the Advancement of Clinical Research.
Clinical Research: A Reaffirmation of Trust Between the Public and Medical Science
A declaration of principles related to clinical research signed by FASEB and other organizations.
Clinical Research Education Series
Maintained by the National Institutes of Health, the Clinical Trials Education Series is designed for patients, health professionals, and the general public. It consists of 13 different educational materials (books, booklets, slides, videos) that can be ordered separately or viewed online.
ClinicalTrials.gov
Provides regularly updated information about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers. ClinicalTrials.gov gives you information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details.
Other Clinical Research Resources
Maintained by the Society of Clinical Research Associates, this list of links accesses government agencies, human subjects protection organizations, watchdog groups and professional associations.
Information for Scientists
Increasing Minority Participation in Clinical Research
This white paper published by The Endocrine Society examines the factors that hinder the participation of minorities in clinical research and includes a series of recommendations aimed at Congress, federal agencies, and academia to ensure that data from clinical trials represent and serve the broadest possible patient base.
Summary of 2006 Changes to the Institutional CTSA
NIH reissued the RFA for the Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award in August 2006. This document provides a summary of the changes from the previous CTSA RFA.
Re-Engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise
Part of NIH’s Roadmap Initiative, this site describes the agency’s plans to speed translation of basic research by improving clinical research infrastructure.
Analysis in Brief Series
This series from the Association of American Medical Colleges, analyzes data and trends related to clinical research, training of physician scientists, and other research activities and demographic information.
The Physician-Scientist: Career Issues and Challenges at the Year 2000
(The FASEB Journal. 2000;14:221-230)
An analysis of the training and workforce needs of physician-scientists.
AAMC Task Force on Clinical Research
Information about the ongoing project of the Association of American Medical Colleges whose charge is to consider assist the academic medical community (though AAMC) to more effectively to play their essential roles in creating a robust clinical research enterprise for this nation. In addition, the task force is charged with providing detailed recommendations to member institutions on how to best recruit, train, and sustain clinical and, especially, translational physician-scientists.
Tipping the Scale Towards Success
A white paper from the Association of Clinical Research Professionals resulting from a contest in which they asked their members for to fresh ideas aimed at improving the clinical trials process.
Information about NIH Career Development Awards
This site helps scientists select the right career award to apply for and describes K01-K30 programs.
NIH Tweaks Review Criteria to Include Clinical Research
A short piece in Science magazine that describes NIH’s first overhaul of grant review criteria in 7 years.
Clinical Research Training
NIH Clinical Research Training Program
Training and award opportunities for scientists interested in becoming clinical researchers.
AAMC Clinical Research Training Resources
A state by state list of clinical research training programs, maintained by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Clinical Research Organizations
Institute of Clinical Research
An organization of clinical research professionals that provides information on best practices, professional development opportunities, and international discussion forums.
Society of Clinical Research Associates
A non-profit, professional organization dedicated to the continuing education and development of clinical research professionals. The aim of SoCRA is to provide training and continuing education for clinical research professionals and to establish and maintain an international certification program for clinical research professionals.
Center for Clinical Research Practice
Provides links to periodicals for training and best practices for clinical research professionals, as well as a list of resource links related to clinical research. Some publications require a subscription.
Association of Clinical Research Professionals
A professional membership organization for clinical researchers – site includes a code of ethics, and a variety of publications designed to communicate with its membership, the media, and the clinical research community at large. Some areas are members only.
AHC Forum
An organization of 40 academic health centers formed to sustain and expand well-trained clinical investigators and nurturing research environments. Site includes young and mid-career investigator centers.
Human Subjects Protection, Useful Links
Government Agencies
HHS Office of Human Research Protection
The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) supports, strengthens and provides leadership to the nation’s system for protecting volunteers in research that is conducted or supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). OHRP provides clarification and guidance to research institutions, develops educational programs and materials, and promotes innovative approaches to enhancing human subject protections. Similar offices at other government agencies include: DOE; NSF; NASA; VA; and USDA.
NIH Office of Human Subjects Research
The OHSR was established to help NIH intramural investigators understand and comply with the ethical guidelines and regulatory requirements for research involving human subjects. OHSR's overall goal is to promote and support the IRP's efforts to conduct innovative research which protects the rights and promotes the welfare of human subjects.
Non-Government Organizations
Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRP)
This organization offers accreditation to institutions that conduct or review research with human participants. The AAHRPP accreditation program uses a voluntary, peer-driven, educational model. Site offers information for researchers, institutions and research participants. FASEB is a founding member of AAHRP.
Institutional Review Board Forum
This organization promotes the discussion of ethical, regulatory and policy concerns with human subjects research. Open to past and current members of Institutional Review Boards (IRB) or Research Ethics Committees (REC), IRB/REC administrators, individuals involved in IRB/REC oversight, and others with professional involvement in IRB/REC and/or research activities. Others will be admitted if their involvement in human subjects research will contribute to the discussion of issues pertinent to The IRB Forum.
Education and Training for Scientists
Informed Consent
A web based teaching module from the University of Minnesota that provides information on the informed consent process and also a tool to help you create a consent document. Additionally, this presentation on informed consent by Dr. James Heubi is available from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Human Participant Protections Education for Research Teams
This free, web-based course presents information about the rights and welfare of human participants in research. The two-hour tutorial is designed for those involved in conducting research involving human participants. It satisfies the NIH human subjects training requirement for obtaining Federal Funds. You will have the option of printing a certificate of completion from your computer upon completing the course. Free registration required.
Protecting Human Subjects
Two modules designed to provide the participant with: historical background for behavioral and biomedical research; ethical principles for human subject research; case studies; and information on the role of an Institutional Review Board (IRB). From the U.S. Health Resources and Services Agency. Requires Real player.
Human Subjects Assurance Training
Three modules on: HHS Regulations & Institutional Responsibilities; Investigator Responsibilities & Informed Consent; and Human Research Protections Program. Aimed at institutional officials involved in human subjects protection oversight.