Update, Jan. 18: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced an Interim Final Rule that delays the implementation date for the Common Rule which governs federally funded research involving human subjects to July 19, 2018.  For the full text of the federal register notice, click here. Stay tuned to the UO’s Revised Common Rule website for further details.

Many UO researchers who conduct studies involving human subjects will encounter new guidelines in 2018.

That was the takeaway from a message delivered to the UO research community by David Conover, vice president for research and innovation.

The Dec. 11 letter to the UO research community was focused on the forthcoming revised “Common Rule,” which governs federally funded research involving human subjects. Most provisions in the new rule will go into effect Jan. 19.

“I am writing to provide you with information on changes coming soon in how human subjects research is regulated and how the university is preparing for these changes,” Conover said. “Our Research Compliance Services (RCS) unit, in collaboration with members of the Institutional Review Board, is working diligently to prepare our institution for these new regulations.”

Conover encouraged researchers to visit the UO’s Revised Common Rule website for detailed information and regular updates on the 2018 Common Rule implementation. UO’s Research Compliance Services unit will offer general information sessions on the revised guidelines on the following dates

• Monday, Jan. 8 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Jan. 11 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

UO researchers can register for these and other educational offerings on the Research Compliance Services Education and Outreach page. Questions can be directed to Research Compliance Services at researchcompliance@uoregon.edu or (541) 346-2510.