EXTERNAL PEER REVIEW FOR DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM EXTRAMURAL MEDICAL RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS.

SEC. 742. [10 U.S.C. 1071 note] EXTERNAL PEER REVIEW FOR DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM EXTRAMURAL MEDICAL RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS. (a) Establishment of External Peer Review Process.—The Secretary of Defense shall establish a peer review process that will use persons who are not officers or employees of the Government to review the research protocols of medical research projects. (b) Peer Review Requirements.—Funds of the Department of Defense may not be obligated or expended for any medical research project unless the research protocol for the project has been approved by the external peer review process established under subsection (a). (c) Medical Research Project Defined.—For purposes of this section, the term “medical research project” means a research project that— (1) involves the participation of human subjects; (2) is conducted solely by a non-Federal entity; and (3) is funded through the Defense Health Program account. (d) Effective Date.—The peer review requirements of subsection (b) shall take effect on October 1, 1996, and, except as provided in subsection (e), shall apply to all medical research projects proposed funded on or after that date, including medical research projects funded pursuant to any requirement of law enacted before, on, or after that date. (e) Exceptions.—Only the following medical research projects shall be exempt from the peer review requirements of sub- section (b): (1) A medical research project that the Secretary determines has been substantially completed by October 1, 1996. (2) A medical research project funded pursuant to any provision of law enacted on or after that date if the provision of law specifically refers to this section and specifically states that the peer review requirements do not apply.