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Salamanca-Buentello F, Katz R, Silva DS, Upshur REG, Smith MJ. Research ethics review during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0292512. [PMID: 38626030 PMCID: PMC11020390 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Research ethics review committees (ERCs) worldwide faced daunting challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a need to balance rapid turnaround with rigorous evaluation of high-risk research protocols in the context of considerable uncertainty. This study explored the experiences and performance of ERCs during the pandemic. We conducted an anonymous, cross-sectional, global online survey of chairs (or their delegates) of ERCs who were involved in the review of COVID-19-related research protocols after March 2020. The survey ran from October 2022 to February 2023 and consisted of 50 items, with opportunities for descriptive responses to open-ended questions. Two hundred and three participants [130 from high-income countries (HICs) and 73 from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)] completed our survey. Respondents came from diverse entities and organizations from 48 countries (19 HICs and 29 LMICs) in all World Health Organization regions. Responses show little of the increased global funding for COVID-19 research was allotted to the operation of ERCs. Few ERCs had pre-existing internal policies to address operation during public health emergencies, but almost half used existing guidelines. Most ERCs modified existing procedures or designed and implemented new ones but had not evaluated the success of these changes. Participants overwhelmingly endorsed permanently implementing several of them. Few ERCs added new members but non-member experts were consulted; quorum was generally achieved. Collaboration among ERCs was infrequent, but reviews conducted by external ERCs were recognized and validated. Review volume increased during the pandemic, with COVID-19-related studies being prioritized. Most protocol reviews were reported as taking less than three weeks. One-third of respondents reported external pressure on their ERCs from different stakeholders to approve or reject specific COVID-19-related protocols. ERC members faced significant challenges to keep their committees functioning during the pandemic. Our findings can inform ERC approaches towards future public health emergencies. To our knowledge, this is the first international, COVID-19-related study of its kind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Salamanca-Buentello
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Bridgepoint Collaboratory for Research and Innovation, Sinai Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rachel Katz
- Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Diego S. Silva
- School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ross E. G. Upshur
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Bridgepoint Collaboratory for Research and Innovation, Sinai Health, Toronto, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Karbwang J, Torres CE, Navarro AM, Wongwai P, Jimenez EB, Shetty Y, Ramalingam S, Koli P, Amir L, Rachmawati SD, Waworundeng M, Rizki H, Noor ASM, Ghimire P, Gyanwali P, Sharma S, Ghimire N, Wanigatunge C, Yimtae K. The readiness of the Asian research ethics committees in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-country survey. F1000Res 2024; 13:19. [PMID: 39165349 PMCID: PMC11333877 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.143138.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background COVID-19 is a highly challenging infectious disease. Research ethics committees (RECs) have challenges reviewing research on this new pandemic disease under a tight timeline and public pressure. This study aimed to assess RECs' responses and review during the outbreak in seven Asian countries where the Strategic Initiative for Developing Capacity in Ethical Review (SIDCER) networks are active. Methods The online survey was conducted in seven Asian countries from April to August 2021. Two sets of online questionnaires were developed, one set for the chairs/secretaries and another set for the REC members.The REC profiles obtained from the REC members are descriptive in nature. Data from the chairs/secretaries were compared between the RECs with external quality assessment (SIDCER-Recognized RECs, SR-RECs) and non-external quality assessment (Non-SIDCER-Recognized RECs, NSR-RECs) and analyzed using a Chi-squared test. Results A total of 688 REC members and 197 REC chairs/secretaries participated in the survey. Most RECs have standard operating procedures (SOPs), and have experience in reviewing all types of protocols, but 18.1% had no experience reviewing COVID-19 protocols. Most REC members need specific training on reviewing COVID-19 protocols (93%). In response to the outbreak, RECs used online reviews, increased meeting frequency and single/central REC. All SR-RECs had a member composition as required by the World Health Organisation ethics guidelines, while some NSR-RECs lacked non-affiliated and/or layperson members. SR-RECs reviewed more COVID-related product development protocols and indicated challenges in reviewing risk/benefit and vulnerability (0.010), informed consent form (0.002), and privacy and confidentiality (P = 0.020) than NSR-RECs. Conclusions Surveyed RECs had a general knowledge of REC operation and played a significant role in reviewing COVID-19-related product development protocols. Having active networks of RECs across regions to share updated information and resources could be one of the strategies to promote readiness for future public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntra Karbwang
- Drug Discovery and Development Center, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, Bangkok, 12120, Thailand
- Clinical Coordination and Training Center, Strategic Initiative in Developing Capacity in Ethical Review (SIDCER), Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Cristina E. Torres
- National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Metro Manila, 1000, Philippines
- Clinical Coordination and Training Center, Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Pacific (FERCAP), Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Arthur M. Navarro
- Clinical Coordination and Training Center, Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Pacific (FERCAP), Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
- Department of Social Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Metro Manila, 1000, Philippines
| | - Phanthipha Wongwai
- Clinical Coordination and Training Center, Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Pacific (FERCAP), Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
- Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Nai Mueang, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
| | - Edlyn B. Jimenez
- National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Metro Manila, 1000, Philippines
| | - Yashashri Shetty
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - Sudha Ramalingam
- Department of Community Medicine, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Reseach, Coimbatore, 641004, India
| | - Paresh Koli
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - Lisa Amir
- Forum of Indonesian Recognized Ethics Committees (FIRREC), Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia
- Dental Research Ethics Committee Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia
| | - Septi Dewi Rachmawati
- Forum of Indonesian Recognized Ethics Committees (FIRREC), Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia
- Health Research Ethics Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, 65145, Indonesia
| | - Monalisa Waworundeng
- Forum of Indonesian Recognized Ethics Committees (FIRREC), Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia
- Ethics Committee, Mochtar Riady Institute for Nanotechnology (MRIN), Tangerang, 15810, Indonesia
| | - Harnawan Rizki
- Forum of Indonesian Recognized Ethics Committees (FIRREC), Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia
| | - Asyraf Syahmi Mohd Noor
- National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, Federal Government of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 40170, Malaysia
| | - Prakash Ghimire
- National Ethical Review Board, Nepal Health Research Council, Ministry of Health & Population, Kathmandu, 7626, Nepal
| | - Pradip Gyanwali
- National Ethical Review Board, Nepal Health Research Council, Ministry of Health & Population, Kathmandu, 7626, Nepal
| | - Subhanshi Sharma
- National Ethical Review Board, Nepal Health Research Council, Ministry of Health & Population, Kathmandu, 7626, Nepal
| | - Namita Ghimire
- National Ethical Review Board, Nepal Health Research Council, Ministry of Health & Population, Kathmandu, 7626, Nepal
| | - Chandanie Wanigatunge
- Faculty of Medical Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Kwanchanok Yimtae
- Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Nai Mueang, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
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Sisk BA, Foraker R, DuBois JM. Navigating Conflicting Interests in Pandemic Research: Preparing the US Research Infrastructure for a Worse Pandemic. Am J Med 2023; 136:127-129. [PMID: 36252708 PMCID: PMC9574787 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2022.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan A Sisk
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo; Division of General Medical Sciences, Bioethics Research Center, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo
| | - Randi Foraker
- Division of General Medical Sciences, Institute for Informatics, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo
| | - James M DuBois
- Division of General Medical Sciences, Bioethics Research Center, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.
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