Using ResearchMatch.org to Support Research Recruitment

What is ResearchMatch.org?

ResearchMatch.org is a national recruitment registry that brings together researchers and people who are interested to learn more about research studies via a secure website.

Researchers at the University of Rochester and its affiliates use this tool for:

• Feasibility Assessment – Researchers use ResearchMatch to assess the availability of volunteers that matches the requirements for study eligibility. Results of a feasibility assessment are provided in aggregate, without individually identifying information.
• Recruiting – Researchers invite volunteers who agree to be contacted.

Getting Started

Creating an Account

Create an account and follow the prompt to register. Training is available in the system once you've registered and logged in.

Conducting a Feasibility Assessment

Using the ResearchMatch search-building tools, the researcher enters search criteria to assess availability of the study population of interest within the ResearchMatch database. Criteria include (but are not limited to):

• Geographic factors (distance from institution and State)
• Age
• Gender
• Physical characteristics (height, weight, BMI)

• Race and Ethnicity
• Health status (diagnosed diseases and conditions)*
• Medication history
• Twin status
• English or Spanish language

*Absence of diagnoses is also captured for healthy volunteers

Upon completing a feasibility search, researchers can view how many ResearchMatch volunteers meet study-specific criteria.

Recruiting Research Subjects

ResearchMatch provides tools to assess how many individuals meet eligibility criteria, to view non-identifying descriptions of potential matches, to add an IRB-approved recruitment message to send to eligible individuals, and inviting permission to release identifying information for researcher initiation of enrollment procedures. Tools include mechanisms for tracking enrollment statistics.

Securing IRB Approval

Every study requesting Recruitment Access must receive IRB approval to use ResearchMatch. The IRB submission and approval process is detailed in the University of Rochester RM_Site_Instructions_2020

To request approval to use this tool, researchers will complete and submit to the IRB the Request-the-use-of-ResearchMatch_2021. This form must include the recruitment message which will be sent to matched volunteers. Information identifying the study investigator(s) and how to contact recruitment coordinators must be omitted from this message, to retain communication pathways within ResearchMatch.

Uploading Study-Specific Information

Once IRB approval is provided, researchers enter study details and upload the IRB-approval document (PDF format). Following verification of IRB approval to use ResearchMatch for recruitment, the requesting researcher will receive notice that access has been granted.

Identifying and Communicating with Potential Volunteers

Researchers search the ResearchMatch database to assess how many individuals meet eligibility criteria, to view non-identifying descriptions of potential matches, and to add the IRB-approved recruitment message to send to eligible individuals.

ResearchMatch sends the study recruitment message to matched volunteers to inform them about a new opportunity to participate. Once individuals respond with permission to be contacted for that study, personal contact information is made available to the researcher within the secure ResearchMatch system.

NEW! ResearchMatch is now available in Spanish! If you have IRB approval, you can message Spanish-speaking volunteers with your IRB approved Spanish contact message. Use the new language filter on ResearchMatch indicating that your message is in Spanish.

Technical Assistance with ResearchMatch

If you have general questions about ResearchMatch.org, contact us through our Research Request Dashboard.

Report technical difficulties with the ResearchMatch.org website.

Assistance with University of Rochester Recruitment Policies and Process

The UR CTSI offers assistance in recruitment and retention of research participants. Visit our recruiting participants page for more information.