Overview of Human Subjects System (HSS)

What is the purpose?

The HSS system is a shared system that enables grant recipients to electronically report and update their data on human subjects and clinical trials to NIH; and for NIH agency staff to monitor and manage the data. The information in HSS covers the current project period or competitive segment.

The HSS is automatically populated by human subjects and clinical trial data entered by the principal investigator (PI) on the Human Subjects and Clinical Trial Information form in applications submitted for due dates of January 25, 2018 and beyond. This data is then made available to PIs and signing officials (SO) through a link that will be available on the eRA Commons Status screen and the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR).

Main Screenshots

Figure 1:  The Human Subjects link in section G.4.b of the RPPR.

Figure 2:  The Human Subjects links on the Principal Investigator's Status Search Result screen.

Figure 3:  The Human Subjects Study Records form in HSS with buttons to add new studies, view or edit existing studies, and save record highlighted. 

What are the features?

For recipients:

• Add/update study information
• Create new enrollment reports or view/edit/update existing enrollment data
• Make off-cycle corrections or updates after application or Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) submission
• Convert a delayed onset study to a full study record, once detailed study information is available
• Provide interim data as requested by NIH staff, in the funding opportunity announcement, or in the terms and conditions of award
• Inform NIH of ClinicalTrials.gov registration
• Export Human Subjects/Clinical Trial (HSCT) study records in XML format and upload to ClinicalTrials.gov. 

For NIH staff:

Depending on their roles and privileges, NIH staff can use the Human Subjects System to:

• View and compare study records
• For networked awards, associate projects to allow one primary project to report study information for other projects within the network
• Receive notifications
• Make corrections to study-level codes
• Delete duplicate or unfunded studies

What are the benefits?

• Allows principal investigators and signing officials to access and update all the human subject and clinical trial data associated with their applications or grants in one place
• Provides an electronic means of entering, capturing, storing, approving, monitoring, and reporting the planned and actual enrollment of individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity; as well as other human subjects and clinical trial information
• Provides NIH staff tools to monitor human subjects and clinical trial data   
• Provides a user-friendly way of electronically entering, storing, and reporting human subjects and clinical trial data
• Promotes increased transparency by displaying the same information to grant recipients and NIH staff

Who can use the HSS module?

• PIs and SOs
• NIH program, grants management, and inclusion staff

How does one access the HSS module?

PIs and SOs can access the system via a Human Subjects link in the Status section of eRA Commons and via a Human Subjects link in the RPPR section of eRA Commons. For NIH staff, HSS is available through the Program Management Module, Checklist, the Grants Management module, Grant Folder and as a standalone HSS system.