Role of the Research‐Subject Locator (RSL) in the Performance of a Pediatric Drug Trial

Abstract

This article examines the feasibility, effectiveness, and ethical constraints relevant to appropriate financial compensation of the pediatric house officer who functions as a research-subject locator (RSL). When carefully trained and supervised, the RSL can facilitate timely enrollment of research subjects in pediatric drug trials, augment the house officer training experience, and advocate for children to increase therapeutic options available for pediatric care. When monitored within the clinical trial schema, the RSL has no direct link to the study outcome and thus performs within ethical standards for subject enrollment and study participation.