Participant's Bill of Rights


Pennington Biomedical Research Center is committed to protecting the rights, safety and well being of all individuals who volunteer to participate in research conducted at Pennington Biomedical. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is an independent body consisting of medical, scientific, and nonscientific members from both Pennington Biomedical and the Baton Rouge community. It is the responsibility of the IRB to rigorously review all research involving human volunteers to ensure that

  1. Risks to volunteers are minimized through sound scientific research design
  2. Risks to volunteers are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits
  3. The selection of volunteers is equitable, and any vulnerable populations such as children are adequately protected
  4. Informed consent is obtained from each volunteer after study procedures are thoroughly explained
  5. Adequate procedures are in place to protect the privacy of volunteers

A study may not begin to accrue volunteers until it has been approved by the IRB. Once a study has begun, the IRB monitors each study through continuing reviews conducted on a periodic basis to ensure that the interests of study participants remain protected. The IRB assures compliance with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) regulations (45 CFR 46) and with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations (21CFR 50and 21 CFR 56).


As a volunteer in a research study, you have the following rights:

  1. To be told what the study is trying to find out
  2. To be told what will happen to me if you take part in the study
  3. To be told about the frequent and/or important risks, side effects, or discomforts of the things that will happen to you for research purposes
  4. To be told if you can expect any benefit from participating, and if so, what the benefit might be
  5. To be assured that study records will remain confidential to the extent allowed by law
  6. To be told what compensation you will receive and what charges you will pay
  7. To be told about any new findings that may affect my willingness to continue participating in the study
  8. To be told of the other choices you have if you decide not to take part in the study
  9. To be allowed to ask any questions concerning the study both before agreeing to participate and during the course of the study
  10. To be told what sort of medical treatment is available if any complications arise
  11. To refuse to participate at all or to change your mind about participating after the study is started without penalty
  12. To receive a copy of the signed and dated consent form
  13. To be free of pressure when considering whether you wish to agree to participate in the study

If you have other questions please ask the principal investigator. You may also contact the Pennington Biomedical Institutional Review Board (IRB), which is concerned with the protection of volunteers in research studies.

You may reach the IRB office by calling:
(225) 763-2693 from 8:00 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday,
or by writing to the Pennington Biomedical Research Center IRB,
6400 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808.