Clinical Trial Requirements for Grants and Contracts

Scope Note

NIH has launched a series of initiatives to enhance the accountability and transparency of clinical research. These initiatives target key points along the clinical trial lifecycle from concept to results reporting. Find key resources and tips for applicants and grantees.

NIH Definition of a Clinical Trial
A research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include placebo or other control) to evaluate the effects of those interventions on health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes.

Your human subjects study may meet
the NIH definition of a clinical trial.

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Infographic: Clinical trials include a wide range of studies, including mechanistic, exploratory/development, pilot/feasibility, other interventional, behaviorial, and basic experimental (BESH) studies.

NIH's Definition of a Clinical Trial

Learn more about why NIH has implemented changes to enhance the stewardship of clinical trials and how these changes impact your research.

Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans (BESH)

Basic experimental studies involving humans (BESH) are studies that meet both the federal definition of basic research and the NIH definition of a clinical trial. Find new resources to help differentiate between a measurement and an intervention, learn about answering the 4 clinical trial questions for BESH, and more.

Clinical Trial-Specific Funding Opportunities

All applicants proposing clinical trials can learn about the requirement for submitting applications through a funding opportunity designated specifically for clinical trials.

Clinical Trial-Specific Review Criteria

Specific review criteria will be used to evaluate applications proposing clinical trials or clinical trial research experience. Learn more about these review criteria.

Good Clinical Practice

All NIH-funded clinical investigators and clinical trial staff who are involved in the design, conduct, oversight, or management of clinical trials can learn about the requirement to be trained in Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

Scientist writing

Human Subjects System

Effective June 9, 2018, the Human Subjects System (HSS) replaced the Inclusion Management System (IMS). HSS consolidates human subjects and clinical trial information in one place. PD/PIs, signing officials, and NIH staff access the HSS through eRA Commons.

Human Subjects and Clinical Trial Information Form

The Human Subjects and Clinical Trial Information form is required for all human subjects and/or clinical trial research beginning with the January 25, 2018 due dates. Learn more about this form and tips for completing it.

Posting Clinical Trial Informed Consent Forms

Learn more about the requirement that clinical trials post informed consent documents to a public federal government website.

Protocol Templates for Clinical Trials

Discover our protocol templates with instructional and sample text to help write clinical protocols for the following types of research: 1) Phase 2 or 3 clinical trials that require Investigational New Drug applications (IND) or Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) applications, and 2) Behavioral and social sciences research involving humans.

Requirements for Registering & Reporting NIH-Funded Clinical Trials

All NIH-funded clinical trials are expected to register and submit results information to ClinicalTrials.gov. Learn more about these requirements. Learn more about what you need to know about these requirements.

Information about NIH Clinical Trial Stewardship

Learn why clinical trial policies are key to enhancing the stewardship of clinical trials.

Training & Resources for NIH Clinical Trial Policies

Learn about training opportunities, find helpful resources, and use the links below for guidance on NIH's clinical trial policies. We will continue to post additional resources, so check back frequently.

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      This page last updated on: September 12, 2024
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