Regulation and Ethics Review of Research

Research involving human participants needs, in principle, to be reviewed by a capable Research Ethics Committee (REC) – also called an Institutional Review Board (IRB).  The ethical review of research protocols before research studies are started has become an essential requirement of good research in all but a very few countries.

 

In the case of 'international collaborative health research' involving researchers and funding from high income countries to conduct research for health in low and middle income countries this is especially important and ethical review is often complex. In addition, research is becoming increasingly international and takes place in more than one country at the same time.

 

Capable RECs/IRBs and - where appropriate - national ethics committees, high quality ethics guidelines that adapt international guidelines to local conditions, and effective management of or 'standard operating procedures' for RECs/IRBs will all facilitate the conduct of ethical research and will minimise the risks and maximise the benefits of research for health – especially in low and middle income countries.

 

This section of HRWeb provides crucial contact information for ethics reviews of health research in countries. The information is being provided partly by COHRED but increasingly by Research Ethics Committees themselves under an agreement with HRWeb.