The UWI Cave Hill Campus Annual Report to Council 2021/2022

Research and Innovation | 123

The Research Ethics Committee The Research Ethics Committee (REC) provides ethical review of research with human participants on the Cave Hill Campus. The REC jointly serves the Cave Hill Campus and the Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness and coordinates review with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Ethics Committee. Additionally, the REC reviews research projects from neighbouring nations if requested and coordinates with the RECs on other UWI campuses. Members are appointed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and include representatives from each Cave Hill faculty, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and the broader community, including both scientists and laypersons. The Committee maintains Federal Wide Assurance with the US Office of Human Research Protections and, therefore, has authority to review projects receiving US federal funding or otherwise subject to US regulatory requirements. In that context, the Committee is the Cave Hill Institutional Review Board (IRB). Ethical review benefits researchers and the communities in which they work. Prior ethical review safeguards the human rights and wellbeing of participants and is a global best practice. Most publication outlets in the biomedical, social, and natural sciences require documentation of formal ethical review as a prerequisite for publication. Further, many funding sources require ethical review prior to committing to support a study; these include most major foundations, the US and European governmental funding agencies, and the Cave Hill Research Awards Committee. The REC reviewed 151 research protocols from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022. It continued to provide rapid review for time-sensitive projects related to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated response efforts, following procedures implemented in March 2020. The Committee offers a wide range of education and outreach activities, as well as individual ethics consultations, for students and members of staff. These include presentations to faculties and individual classes across campus, as well as regularly scheduled teaching in the undergraduate and postgraduate medical curriculum, including the postgraduate programmes in public health and nursing. The REC provides teaching support for

the Research Supervisor Development Course and the Postgraduate Students’ Workshop Series. It contributes to continuing medical education (CME) programmes on a regular basis. The Cave Hill Campus supports the development of research ethics in the region through publications, conference presentations, and service on research ethics bodies, including The UWI Cross-Campus Research Ethics Committee, the Caribbean Public Health Agency Research Ethics Committee, and the Executive of the Caribbean Network of Research Ethics Committees. The REC chair serves as editor of Bulletin of the Caribbean Network of Research Ethics Committees ( https://carpha.org/ What-We-Do/Networks/CANREC/CANREC-Bulletins ). Prospective researchers should be aware that the Committee provides free online training in ethics for all research team members through a partnership with the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative ( www. citiprogram.org ). Either the Basic Biomedical or Social- Behavioural-Educational Course meets the Committee’s requirements, and researchers may choose the appropriate track for their discipline(s). CITI offerings now include optional courses on Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Animal Care and Use (ACU), Conflict of Interest (COI), and Information Privacy and Security (IPS). The Cave Hill REC transitioned to an online research ethics proposal management system in November 2021 and has continued to make improvements in response to user feedback. The new system has a number of benefits, including: • A Centralised and streamlined review process from submission through approval • Coordinated review of cross-campus research proposals • Automated reminders for researchers • Dedicated forms for both human and animal research Please visit the REC’s website at www.cavehill.uwi.edu/ researchethics before submitting a proposal for the most current information and application requirements.

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES CAVE HILL CAMPUS ANNUAL REPORT TO COUNCIL 2021/2022

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