Human Data

Using human data to conduct research is highly regulated and requires approval from multiple departments to ensure confidentiality and privacy for the participant before submitting an IRB protocol. 

At WVU, ITS and WV CTSI provide approved and compliant storage, transmission, software, and computing services to conduct human subjects research. The WVU IRBs serve as the privacy board.  

For research using electronic medical records (EMR) from the WVU Health System, WV CTSI acts as the Honest Broker. Data Agreements may be needed for human data when sharing data with or transferring data to external parties.

The Human Research Data Protection process serves as the central process to ensure approvals and compliance. Please review the compliant-use-of-technology list before beginning a research project using human data:

• Human Research Data Protection Process
  (Required for an IRB Protocol Submission)
• Data Sources
• Data Types
• Collecting Data From Participants 
• Technology Compliance: Collaboration and Reliance, External IRBs
• Using WVU Medicine (Health System) Medical Records
• Unencrypted/Encrypted Communication
• WVU Health System Medical/Dental Records SOP (DOCX)
• Approved Technologies for Research
• Wearables and mHealth/Digital Health