From the benches: An empirical analysis of the challenges of and opportunities for Research Ethics Consult Services (RECS)

Abstract: Research ethics consultation services (RECS) provide advice to a broad array of stakeholders, including investigators, Institutional Review Boards, and participants, who are engaged in human subjects and nonhuman subjects’ research. Previously, the National Center for Advancing Translational Science’s (NCATS) required institutions applying for Center for Translational Science Awards (CTSAs) to include plans for integrating research ethics across the institution to ensure investigators had resources to engage in facilitated discussions and obtain guidance on challenging and novel ethical issues at all stages of their research. However, with recent changes to NCATS’ requirement, it is unclear how (and if) RECS maintain their institutions’ support, what function they continue to play, and the challenges that they may face. This qualitative study of 22 research ethics consultants from US academic medical centers and research hospitals suggests that RECS that maintained relationships with their local CTSA and/or have support from institutional leadership are still a part of research activities on campus. How their services are valued, funded, and the even the activities they carry out varies across institution. Regardless of level of funding most RECs limit their active outreach and advertising as to not drive demand beyond their current capacity. This presentation will highlight key strategies that RECS have instituted to showcase their value to researchers and administrators, and to engage researchers in ethics education, discussions, and reflections.

Jennifer McCormick – Pennsylvania State University; Holly Taylor – Clinical Center Bioethics – National Institutes of Health