Research with Vulnerable Populations
Vulnerable populations of human research participants are groups of people who have either historically been coerced or forced to participate in research or who may not have the language, education, or decision-making skills to decide for themselves whether to participate in research. For this reason, members of vulnerable populations are afforded additional layers of protection under Title 45 Section 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Populations Considered Vulnerable
- Children
- Neonates
- Prisoners
- Pregnant women and their fetuses
- Persons who are decisionally challenged
- Persons who are educationally disadvantaged
- Persons who are economically disadvantaged
- Persons who do not speak English
- Persons who are undocumented
- Persons engaged in illegal activity
- Students recruited by their professors or advisors for research participation
- Children recruited by their parents for research participation
- Children who are wards of the state
