New research disclosure language created

U.S. medical researchers have developed language designed to help clinical researchers better disclose their financial interests in research.

Experts at Johns Hopkins, Duke and Wake Forest universities say the new language provides guidance for researchers seeking to properly disclose the types of financial interests most commonly found in clinical research.

"There is near-universal agreement about the need for clinical researchers to disclose financial interests to research participants, but until now there has been little guidance available on exactly how to do it," said principal investigator Dr. Jeremy Sugarman of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. "Using an empirically based approach, we have helped create the right tools to do the right thing. The new language is a model for others to use, test and improve upon."

Developed as part of an ongoing $3 million project called the Conflict of Interest Notification Study, the new disclosure statements are designed to be used in written materials provided to potential research participants before giving their informed consent.

The new language is featured in the January issue of the journal IRB: Ethics and Human Research.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International