Certificates of Confidentiality

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health

Purpose

Certificates of Confidentiality are issued by NHLBI to help researchers protect the privacy of research subjects. The Certificate protects investigators and institutions from being compelled to release information that could be used to identify subjects participating in a research project. Certificates of Confidentiality are issued to institutions or universities where the research is conducted. They allow the investigator and others who have access to research records to refuse to disclose identifying information in any civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or other proceeding, whether at the federal, state, or local level. Identifying information is broadly defined as any item or combination of items in the research data that could lead directly or indirectly to the identification of a research subject. By protecting researchers and institutions from being compelled to disclose information that would identify research participants, Certificates of Confidentiality help achieve the research objectives and promote participation in studies by assuring the research participants’ privacy.

For More Information

Please visit the NIH Certificates of Confidentiality Kiosk for additional information including application instructions and frequently asked questions.

For further information about Certificates of Confidentiality, to submit an application, or to request an extension or amendment for an existing Certificate awarded by NHLBI, contact:

Donna Jones
Program Analyst/CoC Coordinator
Office of Clinical Research/DCVS
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 8181
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2490
TEL: 301-594-4734
FAX: 301-480-5848
E-MAIL: jonesd@nhlbi.nih.gov

Office of Clinical Research/DCVS
NHLBI/NIH
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 8127
Bethesda, MD 20892
TEL: 301-435-0469
E-MAIL: NHLBIDCVSOCR@nhlbi.nih.gov

Last Updated October 31, 2013