One of the elements of informing potential or participating human subjects concerns the sponsorship of the research. Subjects have the right to know the source of funds that support the research. Student research is most often self-supported or given minor support by the institution. Faculty research can be supported by federal or other governmental agencies, private foundations and societies, manufacturers of equipment, pharmaceuticals, and products and foodstuffs, as well as by the institution and personal resources.
All human subjects research should disclose the source(s) of its support, indicating the percentage of the effort that is support by each entity. It is obvious that support of a study on the use of tobacco products by a cigarette company is likely to be viewed differently from a study of rapid transit use patterns supported by funds from CalTrans, although both funding agencies have direct interests in the results.
If there is a change in funding, participants and the IRB must be apprised of the circumstances.
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