Work

Strengthening research ethics committees in crises: Why funding matters

Year: 2025

Type: preprint

Abstract: Research ethics committees (RECs) played a key role in advancing ethical research during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in a survey of 324 RECs in 80 countries across the globe, REC members and staff reported facing significant challenges related to the ethical reviews of protocols. Our study shows that these challenges can be linked to a lack of funding for RECs. We therefore call on key financial supporters of RECs – especially institutional leaders and policymakers – to provide stable funding for RECs before the occurrence of the next crisis. This is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed. It is shared to facilitate timely dissemination and feedback. -- Funded by the European Union. UK participants in Horizon Europe Project PREPARED are supported by UK Research and Innovation grant number 10048353 (University of Central Lancashire). Swiss participants in Horizon Europe Project Prepared are supported by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Research Executive Agency or UKRI or SERI. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority nor UKRI or SERI can be held responsible for them.

Source: Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18155658