Privacy and HIPAA

For many years, to help protect the privacy of research participants, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued certificates of confidentiality to researchers collecting sensitive information about research participants.

These protect researchers and institutions from being compelled to disclose information in response to legal demands that would identify research subjects. The NIH published an update to their policy about certificates of responsibility that went into effect Oct 1, 2017.

For more information, refer to our guidance, view the notice from the NIH, or visit the NIH site about certificates of confidentiality.