May 2025

Ethical concerns arise when Johns Hopkins staff or students serve as volunteers in Johns Hopkins clinical research. These concerns relate primarily to the risks of possible undue pressure and potential loss of confidentiality.

On January 21, 2020, Johns Hopkins University adopted the "Enrolling Employees in Human Subject Research Policy (GEN010)". The JHM IRBs will review applications in accord with this policy.

On January 21, 2020, Johns Hopkins University adopted the "Enrolling Students in Human Subject Research Policy". The JHM IRBs will review applications in accord with this policy.

Faculty who submit applications that will involve students and employees must address the following points:

• Investigators must have strict protections in place to protect confidentiality. Threats to confidentiality are greater when volunteers are members of the Hopkins community, especially when they are known to research staff.
• Recruitment of Employees and Students is allowed but the mechanism for recruitment must align with the JHU polices. Examples of acceptable recruitment methods are: 1) posting of IRB-approved flyers/ads, and 2) sending written notices/invitations to those individuals who have previously agreed to receive such solicitations.
• Employees or Students may not be recruited by an individual who has direct supervisory responsibility for those being recruited (e.g. an employer or teacher). .
• Recruitment of students and employees in research requires additional institutional approval including from the JHU Chief Risk Officer and, for employees, the responsible JHU/JHHS human resources office.