CERTIFICATES OF CONFIDENTIALITY

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

Updated: April 2008

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 (online at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/policy/coc/index.htm) 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:

Ms. Donna Jones
NHLBI Certificate of Confidentiality Coordinator
Office of Administrative Management, NHLBI
31 Center Drive, Room 5A16, MSC 2490
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2490
TEL: 301-496-5931
FAX: 301-402-0299
E-MAIL: jonesdc@mail.nih.gov

NHLBI Division Points of Contact

Please see below a list of contacts in each of the NHLBI Divisions.