Since 1992 the Department of Defense (DOD), through the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command, has received congressionally earmarked appropriations for programs of biomedical research on prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer; neurofibromatosis; tuberous sclerosis; and other health problems. Appropriations for these Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs are used to support peer reviewed extramural research project, training, and infrastructure grants. Congress has become concerned about funding increases for these programs given current demands on the military budget. At the request of Congress, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) examined possibilities of augmenting program funding from alternative sources. The resulting IOM book, Strategies to Leverage Research Funding: Guiding DODa (TM)s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Programs, focuses on nonfederal and private sector contributions that could extend the appropriated funds without biasing the peer review project selection process.

When 18-year-old Jesse Gelsinger died in a gene transfer study at the University of Pennsylvania, the national spotlight focused on the procedures used to ensure research participants' safety and their capacity to safeguard the well-being of those who volunteer for research studies. Responsible Research outlines a three-pronged approach to ensure the protection of every participant through the establishment of effective Human Research Participant Protection Programs (HRPPPs). The approach includes: Improved research review processes, Recognition and integration of research participants' contributions to the system, and Vigilant maintenance of HRPPP performance. Issues addressed in the book include the need for in-depth, complimentary reviews of science, ethics, and conflict of interest reviews; desired qualifications for investigators and reviewers; the process of informed consent; federal and institutional oversight; and the role of accreditation. Recommendations for areas of key interest include suggestions for legislative approaches, compensation for research-related injury, and the refocusing of the mission of institutional review boards. Responsible Research will be important to anyone interested in the issues that are relevant to the practice of using human subjects as research participants, but especially so to policy makers, research administrators, investigators, and research sponsors?but also including volunteers who may agree to serve as research participants. Table of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary 1 Introduction 2 A Systematic Approach to Human Research Participant Protection Programs 3 Back to Basics: A Scientific, Conflict of Interest, and Ethical Review of Research Protocols 4 The Participant-Investigator Interface 5 Improving Protection Through Oversight and Data and Safety Monitoring 6 Improving Human Research Participant Protection Program Performance and Clarifying Roles 7 Improving an Evolving National Human Research Participant Protection System References Appendix A: Data Sources and Methods Appendix B: Protecting Particpants in Social, Behavioral, and Economic Science Research: Issues, Current Problems, and ... Appendix C: Clarifying Protocol Accountability Appendix D: Committee Biographies Index