42 U.S.C. § 300mm–51 — Research regarding certain health conditions related to September 11 terrorist attacks

(a) In general: The WTC Program Administrator must conduct or support (1) research on physical and mental health conditions that may be related to 9/11; (2) research on diagnosing WTC-related health conditions, where there's been diagnostic uncertainty; and (3) research on treating WTC-related health conditions, where there's been treatment uncertainty. The Administrator may do this by continuing and expanding research that started before January 2, 2011, and may work through the World Trade Center Health Registry (section 300mm–52), a Clinical Center of Excellence, or a Data Center. (b) Types of research: The research in (a)(1) must include epidemiological and other studies on WTC-related or newly emerging conditions (1) among enrolled responders and certified-eligible survivors getting treatment, and among people exposed in a way similar to the eligibility criteria in section 300mm–21(a)(2) or 300mm–31(a)(1)(B); and (2) in sample populations outside the disaster area — as far north as 14th Street in Manhattan and in Brooklyn — plus control groups, to check for long-term harm in less-exposed people. (c) Research cohort for emerging health impacts on youth: (1) The Administrator, working with the Secretary of Education, must build a research group large enough to study future health and educational effects of 9/11 exposure, including on people who were 21 or younger at the time of exposure — whether or not they are screening-eligible or certified-eligible survivors. (2) This group may include (A) people who were 21 or younger on September 11, 2001, and were outside the disaster area, but in Manhattan no further north than 14th Street, or in Brooklyn; and (B) control populations, including other people who were 21 or younger on September 11, 2001. (d) Consultation: The Administrator must carry out this research in consultation with the WTC Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee. (e) Application of privacy and human subject protections: Research under this section must have privacy and human-subject protections at least as strong as those that apply to research the Department of Health and Human Services conducts or funds.