Westat’s Human Subjects Protection Program and Code of Ethics

Westat’s Human Research Protections Program (HRPP) Office is responsible for protecting the rights, privacy, and welfare of all research study participants. The office provides support, guidance, and education to facilitate research that is ethical, scientifically sound, and conforms to all required regulations. HRPP staff work collaboratively with corporate administration, researchers, Institutional Review Board (IRB) representatives for practice areas and centers (staff engaged in the support of human research activities within each practice/department), and our clients to review and approve human subjects research at Westat.

Westat’s Institutional Review Board

The HRPP maintains one IRB responsible for the review and continuing oversight of human subjects research. The Westat IRB is a specially constituted committee established to protect the rights and welfare of human subjects who participate in Westat projects. It operates under procedures set forth in the regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federalwide Assurance (FWA) granted to Westat by the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP).

The IRB ensures our studies receive the highest level of review for human subjects protection. It includes internal and external representatives from a large variety of backgrounds, with expertise ranging from statistics and social psychology to medicine and environmental research, to ensure that study protocols across multiple substantive areas reflect best practices in the protection of study participants. Westat IRB and research staff receive ongoing training on the protection of human subjects in research, as well as other pertinent trainings on topics such as research misconduct and HIPAA-related privacy and security.

IRB approval is required before research can begin, continue, or be modified by the research team. Additionally, the Westat IRB may periodically monitor research to ensure it is conducted as approved, extending our commitment to protect human subjects as well as to adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Ethics and Code of Conduct

Westat conducts all business activities with the highest degree of integrity and in compliance with all legal requirements in every location where we operate. These include the laws and regulations of the federal government, such as the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), as well as those of state and local jurisdictions. All Westat employees and contractors are expected to be aware of and abide by the provisions of our Code of Conduct and Ethics policy.

General Data Protection Regulation, European Union

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European law establishing protections for the privacy and security of personal data about individuals in the European Economic Area (EEA). The GDPR applies to the collection and use of personal information in the following scenarios:

• Data collected through activities conducted within the borders of EEA countries
• Data relating to the offering of goods or services to EEA residents
• Data involving monitoring the behavior of EEA residents

The purpose of the GDPR is to provide individuals with more control over how their data are collected, used, and shared.

Financial Conflict of Interest

As a professional research corporation, Westat is committed to protecting the integrity and objectivity of our activities by ensuring that the design, conduct, and reporting of research will not be biased or appear to be biased by a financial conflict of interest. Westat has implemented this policy to identify, manage, reduce, or eliminate any financial conflicts of interest. See the full policy statement at Financial Conflicts of Interest (PDF).