NIH Policy Change Regarding Certificates of Confidentiality

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has updated their policy for issuing Certificates of Confidentiality (COCs) for NIH-funded and conducted research.

Effective October 1, 2017, COCs will be issued automatically for any NIH-funded project using identifiable, sensitive information that was on-going on or after December 13, 2016.

NIH-funded investigators and research teams should review UNC's response to the NIH Policy Change Regarding Certificates of Confidentiality for more information.

Language to use when notifying subjects of this policy: research.unc.edu/files/2018/05/UNC-COC-language-update-and-notice-for-current-subjects-5-21-18.pdf.

For additional guidance, contact the UNC Office of Human Research Ethics at 919.966.3113 or by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The full COC policy can be accessed at grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-17-109.html.

The NIH website also has a helpful page on COCs at grants.nih.gov/policy/humansubjects/coc.htm.