In order to conduct research with human participants, studies need to be reviewed by ethic regulators. In the United States, the ethics regulators are called 'Institutional Review Boards' (IRB). These IRBs are usually associated with organization where research is commonly conducted, such as university, hospitals, or military organizations.

To be an investigator on a research study going for ethical approval, you will be required to have a 'Protecting Human Research Participant' certification. This certification ensures that investigators know their responsibility to treat participants in the proposed study in a humane manner, as research has been done with this vital human component missing. 

Human Research Protection Training