When working with certain governmental entities, there are additional steps and protections that PIs and IRBs must be aware of and execute, or risk complications with their funding.
EPA Research applies to research conducted, supported or otherwise subject to regulation by the EPA. NOTE: The EPA prohibits reliance on human research conducted before April 7, 2006 if there is clear and convincing evidence that the conduct of the research was fundamentally unethical (e.g., the research was intended to seriously harm participants or failed to obtain informed consent), or was significantly deficient relative to the ethical standards prevailing at the time the research was conducted.
EPA Order 1000.17 Change A1 sets out how human participants are protected at EPA. Additionally, EPA is one of the Common Rule agencies and has its own set of regulations found in 40 CFR 26.
Human subjects research (HSR) is any research that collects data or information from or about humans (individuals) in a systematic investigation.
Examples of such investigation include:
Examples of research oriented investigation include:
Differences between EPA (40 CFR Part 26) and DHHS (45 CFR Part 46) Human Subjects Regulations
EPA's regulations differ from the Department of Health & Human Services human subjects regulations in the following respects:
Order 1000.17 Change A1 requires that all human participants research funded by an EPA component be reviewed and approved by the Project Review by the EPA Human Subjects Research Review Official (HSRRO) as compliant with 40 CFR 26, or be determined to be exempt research, before the research begins. This requirement is in addition to IRB review and approval, and it occurs subsequent to it as the final step before the research commences. Initial IRB review of EPA-funded studies should determine that it complies with the requirements laid out in this Order and CFR before submission to the HSRRO.
IRBs must review observational research involving pregnant women and fetuses using 40 CFR 26 and 45 CFR 46 Subpart B.
IRBs may review and approve observational research involving children that does not involve greater than minimal risk only if the IRBs find that adequate provisions are made for soliciting the assent of the children and the permission of their parents or guardians, as set forth in 40 CFR 26.406.
IRBs may review and approve observational research involving children that involves greater than minimal risk but presenting the prospect of direct benefit to the individual participants if the IRBs find and documents that:
There are no additional funding requirements for EPA studies. Refer to the UW department of Research and Sponsored Programs website for guidance: https://www.rsp.wisc.edu/
Per UW policy, researchers are expected to complete a financial conflict of interest report on an annual basis while the study is active. Researchers may be required to submit a COI management plan if a conflict is identified. Refer to the UW COI website for guidance: https://research.wisc.edu/respolcomp/coioar/
There is no additional training required for EPA studies. Researchers and their study staff are expected to take human participants research training as required by the UW, and maintain this certification while participating on an EPA trial. The UW uses the CITI program for this training. The NIH has a FAQ that discusses who on the researcher’s study team is required to have human participants training, and what programs satisfy this requirement.
There is no additional reporting required for EPA studies.
Researchers and their study staff are expected to follow UW policy on reporting adverse events, continuing reviews, etc.
There are no additional requirements for retention of EPA study materials. Refer to UW IRB for recordkeeping guidance here:
EPA Order 1000.17 Change A1
(Policy and Procedures on Protection of Human Subjects)
EPA Regulation 40 CFR 26
(Protection of Human Subjects)
EPA Potections for Subjects in Human Subjects Research with Pesticides