HRPP Document: POL042
Effective Date: 5/09/11
Subject: UAB Policy on Determination of Human Subject Research on Cell Lines
UAB’s human research protection program has adopted a policy regarding the use of commercially available cell lines, based on the Guidance for Investigators and Institutional Review Boards Regarding Research Involving Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Germ Cells and Stem Cell-Derived Test Articles issued by the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) March 19, 2002.
HHS-conducted or supported research that involves neither interactions nor interventions with living individuals or obtaining identifiable private information is not considered human subjects research. Accordingly, in vitro research and research in animals using already derived and established human cell lines, from which the identity of the donor(s) cannot readily be ascertained by the investigator, are not considered human subject research and are not governed by the HHS or FDA human subject protection regulations appearing at 45 CFR Part 46 and 21 CFR Parts 50 and 56. IRB review is not required for such research.
Research that proposes the use of human cell lines available from the American Type Culture collection (ATCC) or a similar repository is not considered human subjects research because the cells are publicly available and all of the information known about the cell lines (perhaps, including the donor) is also publicly available.
In vitro research or research in animals using a human cell line that retains a link to identifying information ordinarily would not be considered human subjects research if:
See also: Definitions in POL001.
Coded means that:
Interaction includes communication or interpersonal contact between the investigator and subject.
Intervention includes both physical procedures by which data are gathered (for example, venipuncture) and manipulations of the subject or the subject environment that are performed for research purposes.
Individually identifiable refers to private information or specimens that can be linked to specific individuals by the investigator(s) either directly or indirectly through coding systems. Private information or specimens are not considered to be individually identifiable when they cannot be linked to specific individuals by the investigator(s) either directly or indirectly. For research covered by HIPAA privacy regulations, research information comprising protected health information will be considered not to be individually identifiable if it does not contain any identifiers in accordance with HIPAA standards.
Investigator means anyone involved in conducting the research. Individuals who provide coded information or specimens to investigators for research and collaborate on other activities related to the conduct of the same research with the investigators who received such information or specimens are considered to have involvement with the conduct of research. Examples of such additional activities include, but are not limited to: (1) the study, interpretation, or analysis of the data resulting from the coded information or specimens, and (2) authorship of presentations or manuscripts related to the research.
Private information includes information about behavior that occurs in a context in which the individual can reasonably expect that no observation or recording is taking place, and information or a biological specimen(s) which has been provided for specific purposes by an individual and which the individual can reasonably expect will not be made public (e.g., a medical record, biopsy tissue). Private information or specimens must be individually identifiable (i.e., the identity of the subject is or may readily be ascertained by the investigator or associated with the information) or, if the research information is protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA, the PHI must be considered identifiable under HIPAA standards.
Research using coded private information or coded biological specimens does not constitute human subjects research as defined under the OHRP definition above if both of the following conditions are met.
Test article means any drug for human use, biological product for human use, medical device for human use, human food additive, color additive, electronic product, or any other article subject to regulation under the FD&C Act, as amended, or under Sections 351 or 354-360f of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.
Approved on May 9, 2011 by:
Richard B. Marchase, PhD
Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Ferdinand Urthaler, MD
Sheila Deters Moore, CIP