Honest Broker

Research Tissue Repository

Updated April 2008

The Honest Broker model requires that a group or individual other than the investigator protects the link between specimens and associated data and subject identity. In this way, knowledge of subject identity is kept from the researcher and any others without need to access that information, but the ability to gather additional follow-up information is retained. All Tissue Repository staff, including the Honest Broker will have to sign a confidentiality agreement stipulating that they will not reveal subject identity or to use procedures that would allow subjects to be identified.

In order to protect subject identity for specimens and data in a tissue bank, subject confidentiality must be protected. Availability of confidential information sounds like an oxymoron. It is possible however to conciliate these two needs when one uses the Honest Broker to provide a barrier between subject confidential information and researchers/tissue bank personnel/database managers. By using the Honest Broker to ensure one way flow of information, confidential information and subject identity can be protected.

The Honest Broker is the only person who can link a subject with the number that identifies that subject. This system ensures that new clinical outcome information can be added to a file identified only by a code number, not a name. In the extremely rare event that important research data becomes available and it becomes necessary to inform the subject or his survivors, a fail-safe mechanism remains for that information to reach the interested party.

The Honest Broker master list (with links) will be stored in the Honest Broker’s office in a secure location for at least 7 years as per HIPAA regulation and Illinois law.