The following letter from Provost Steven Knapp was broadcast on Feb. 25 to faculty, staff and students.

The events of last summer involving research at Johns Hopkins have focused much attention on the practices and procedures governing participation of employees and students in research studies. The university and the Johns Hopkins Health System have a fundamental commitment to the protection of those who participate as the subjects of research. In accordance with that commitment, we have formed a committee to examine the issues related to participation of employees and students in such studies--and recommend changes, if necessary, in our existing policies and practices.

Members of the Committee on Participation Policies for Human Subjects are Ruth Faden (chair), Gary Gerstenblith, Karen Haller and Michael McCloskey. Dr. Faden is director of the Bioethics Institute; Dr. Gerstenblith is a professor of medicine in the School of Medicine; Dr. Haller is vice president for nursing and patient care services at The Johns Hopkins Hospital; and Dr. McCloskey is a professor of cognitive science in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.

The committee and its staff will be seeking information and advice from various university and health system departments and may solicit comments from researchers, institutional review board members, students and employees, among others. Should you receive a request from the committee soliciting your input, I would very much appreciate your doing whatever you can to facilitate the committee's important work. Meanwhile, should you wish to contact the committee, please send an e-mail to hrspol@jhsph.edu.