Resources for Ethics Careers in Catholic Health Care

(N.B. — Much of the information that follows was taken from http://bioethics.od.nih.gov/)

Agencies

• Department of Education (ED) — The ED site includes information about protection of human subjects in ED supported and conducted research and links to Regulations Governing the Protection of Human Subjects in Research.

• Department of Energy (DOE) Protecting Human Subjects page — The page has links to human subjects policies and regulations, educational information and resources, genome research resources, computer-based training for human subjects researchers, as well as links to the DOE Human Subjects Working Group, Research Projects Data Base, Worker Health Related Studies, the Human Radiation Experiments, and Scientific Integrity. The DOE newsletter on human research protections is published periodically.

• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — The VA has several programs to protect the welfare of research subjects. Program for Research Integrity Development and Education (PRIDE). PRIDE is responsible for all policy development and guidance, and all training and education in human research protection throughout the VA.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — The EPA regulations for protection of human subjects of research recently have been modified. Expanded Protections for Human Subjects in Research Studies provides further guidance to the EPA document What Do We Mean by Human Studies.

• Human Genome Project (HGP) Information by the DOE — This site features links on progress and goals of the HGP and information for educators and students. For the ethical, legal and social issues raised by the project see the DOE's ELSI page.

• National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) — The Commission's charter expired in 2001 and it has been discontinued. This web site has archived information on its meetings, subcommittees, and reports, including: Ethical Issues in Human Stem Cell Research, Research Involving Human Biological Materials: Ethical Issues and Policy Guidance, Research Involving Persons with Mental Disorders That May Affect Decision-making Capacity, and Cloning Human Beings.

• National Science Foundation (NSF) — Interpreting the Common Rule for the Protection of Human Subjects in Behavioral and Social Science Research is a set of frequently asked questions and vignettes for different types of research.

• Office for Human Research Protections — This DHHS Office provides leadership on human research subject protections and implements a program of compliance oversight for regulations for the protection of human subjects. This site contains federal regulations, and policy guidance. It is also the office for IRB registration and for obtaining an approved federal wide assurance. The site includes educational material and notices and reports of educational conferences, including the 2005 report and the 2006 report on alternative IRB models. It includes references to international policies and other documents.

• Office of Research Integrity (ORI) — This DHHS site includes publications, regulations and guidelines, information on whistleblower issues, educational material, case studies and data, and information on research programs in responsible conduct of research and scientific integrity.

• Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society (SACGHS) — This committee provides policy advice to the DHHS on the broad array of complex medical, ethical, legal, and social issues raised by the development and use of genetic technologies. This site houses the archives of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing (SACGT), a committee that has been discontinued. The Committee is managed by the Office of Biotechnology Activities, NIH.

• Secretary's Advisory Committee on Human Research Protections (SACHRP) — The Committee provides expert advice and recommendations to the Secretary, DHHS on issues and topics pertaining to or associated with the protection of human research subjects. The site posts reports in its documents section.

• Secretary's Advisory Committee on Xenotransplantation (SACX) — The SACX was discontinued in June 2005. Because xenotransplantation remains an important public health issue, the DHHS continues to monitor xenotransplantation issues. PHS PHS Guideline on Infectious Disease Issues in Xenotransplantation are posted. The site is maintained by the Office of Biotechnology Activities at NIH.