190 Enhancing Research Ethics, Equity and Protections for Uninsured Study Participants

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To increase diversity in clinical and translational research (CTR), to strengthen protections for uninsured and under-insured study participants from vulnerable groups by addressing their medical, ancillary care and psycho-social needs and to develop a systematic ethically sound approach to addressing such needs in the study protocol and budget. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We conducted) ethical analyses of: (1) the regulatory and ethics scholarship concerning protections and duty of care to research participants from vulnerable groups, and 2) arguments concerning the nature and scope of ancillary care obligations of researchers, as well as 3) a review of the applicable local, federal, and international regulations and practices concerning the duty of care to CTR participants and potential participants who are uninsured, under-insured and/or undocumented members of vulnerable groups. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Uninsured and underinsured study participants pose major ethical challenges for CTR as medical needs arising during a study are usually covered by the participants own insurance. Lack of health insurance increases vulnerability and creates (1) a barrier to research participation for members of socially disenfranchised groups, (2) risk of discriminatory exclusion of such participants from clinical studies, and (3) inter-institutional inconsistencies in meeting their medical needs; thus limiting diversity in CTR. To address the challenges, we propose an inclusive, systematic, ethically sound approach, which deliberately plans for and provides resources within a study protocol to address the medical and psycho-social needs of uninsured participants during and beyond the study. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Including diverse participants in CTR ensures data quality and social justice. PIs and IRBs should adopt an inclusive approach to the medical needs of vulnerable uninsured participants, plan for their medical and ancillary care needs in the protocol and budget, list community resources, provide follow-up support and note assistance in their files.