Template and operational guidance for the ethics review and oversight of COVID-19-related research, 15 April 2020

Abstract

As part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, health research has proliferated. Clinical trials and other studies with human participants are being conducted to find efficacious treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. In this context, research ethics committees (RECs) must be prepared and organized to conduct a thorough ethics review of research, and have rapid and flexible procedures in place to do so efficiently, considering the tight timelines and needs posed by this health emergency. This document aims at providing guidance for RECs to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the rapid review of human subjects research related to COVID-19. It supplements the prior Guidance and strategies to streamline the ethics review and oversight of COVID-19-related research.