Human Subject Research at Purdue

Human subject research at Purdue University encompasses a broad range of activities including:

• testing products, materials, human-machine interfaces, and alterations to the environment
• socio-behavioral studies across a broad range of human experience
• clinical studies that further our understanding of human health
• evaluation of educational, financial, and agricultural practices

The above list is by no means comprehensive. A broad range of participants engage in human subjects research at Purdue as well. From infants to the elderly and from people living across campus to people living across the world, human subject participants play a vital role in the scientific endeavor. Despite the diversity of participants and scientific disciplines, all studies conducted by Purdue faculty, students, and staff that involve human subject research must be reviewed by Purdue's Committee on the Use of Human Research Studies (also referred to as the IRB or Institutional Review Board). The IRB weighs risks against benefits and also considers each study in light of the important themes of beneficence, justice, and respect for persons given to us by the seminal Belmont Report written in 1979.

In the pictures and links below, we hope you will enjoy exploring the depth, breadth and scope of human subject research at Purdue. Should you choose to participate in a research study, we thank you for partnering with Purdue in the advancement of science and humanity.