The Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 438, legislation to specify requirements for obtaining and renewing a clinical research facility certificate.

Under current Ohio law, foreign-trained doctors may obtain a temporary three-year certificate to conduct clinical research in Ohio. However, the research often takes more than the three-year period permitted by the certificate. House Bill 438 will allow for the renewal of that original certificate by three-year intervals and help keep the world’s best talent in Ohio.

“The positive impact of this legislation on Ohio’s long-term future is considerable,” said State Representative Barbara Sears, who sponsored the legislation. “As a state, we need to be doing everything we can to attract and retain trained medical professionals who can, in turn, offer us their knowledge and skills. Being marketable and on the leading edge of science research is vital to our economic recovery as a state.”

There are 10 physicians currently conducting research in Ohio who would be positively impacted by amending this law. Neighboring states already allow for such a certificate renewal.

House Bill 438 passed unanimously and will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.