Guidelines for Research Advertising Content

The IRB must review and approve all advertisements that will be used to recruit subjects to a specific research study. Generally, advertisements used to recruit research subjects should be limited to information that a potential subject would need to determine if they are eligible and interested in participating.

The ads should include information such as:

• the name and address of the research facility;
  
• the condition or disease that will be the focus of the research;
  
• the purpose of the research with reference to the fact that the study is investigational;
  
• a summary of criteria for eligibility to participate;
  
• the time and other commitments that will be required of the subject; and
  
• the location of the study and the office to contact for further information.
• all ads must include the statement: This study has been approved by The University of Texas at Austin Institutional Review Board.

Ads may state that reimbursement for time, travel, etc. will be given.

The ads should not:

• contain explicit or implicit claims of safety and efficacy or equivalency or superiority to other approved treatments
  
• emphasize the amount of reimbursement that subjects will receive.
• promise a favorable outcome or benefits
  

When the advertisements conform to the above guidelines, they may be approved for any advertising format, e.g., posted flyers, newspapers, internet advertisements, radio/television, slides shown prior to films at movie theaters. To avoid multiple requests for review and approval, investigators should specify in their original request all advertising formats that are anticipated.