Which of the following is considered a research participant?

• A. A patient with a particular condition whose tissue was removed to help scientists better understand that condition and how to treat it.
• B. A patient whose tissue was removed to determine whether they had a condition requiring treatment.
• C. An employee in HR who completes a job satisfaction survey anonymously
• D. A colleague presenting at a conference

Answer: (A)

In research ethics, a research participant is a person from whom data or biological materials are collected for research purposes to generate generalizable knowledge. The scenario described—tissue removed from a patient to help scientists understand the condition and how to treat it—fits this idea because the tissue is being used as part of a research activity aimed at advancing understanding and therapy. This involvement makes the patient a research participant, with appropriate informed consent and ethics oversight.

The other scenarios do not describe research participation in this sense. A tissue removal done to determine whether the patient has a condition for treatment is a diagnostic procedure within routine care, not research. An anonymous HR survey is an internal administrative activity, not a research study involving participants. A colleague presenting at a conference is not described as part of a research study involving participants.