If asked in 2019 what my predictions of 2020 might be, it would have not included the near-constant use of Zoom. Despite the obstacles we faced in 2020 (and continue to face today), ethicists, educators, professionals, and researchers are finding innovative ways to ask questions, share stories, commiserate, and inspire conversations. Read more
As hospitals have become essential treatment centers for COVID-19 patients, clinical trial participants have become increasingly averse to attending check-ups and monitoring visits at these sites. Telemedicine is now being recognized not only as an option for those who do not have convenient access to healthcare, but also as a means by which clinical trials can be accomplished. Read more
Before I joined the IRB administration team, I thought IRB reviewers were members of a secret society whose sole purpose was to strike down research. Like others before me, I believed my research would be put on the IRB butcher’s block and be chopped into little bits. However, IRB administrators want to see quality research out in the field and will work tirelessly to help guide researchers towards compliance to reach that goal. Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light, once again, the ongoing issue of racial health inequalities in the United States and around the globe. As the first vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 were being approved for use around the world, scrutiny of medical research and its oversight has highlighted the fact that there is still much to do to resolve the unending epidemic of racism in healthcare and to ensure diversity in clinical trials. Read more
On March 5, 2020, I recall a phone conversation with the chairperson of the IRB. I said, "so, what is this COVID thing?" Famous last words, one might suggest. Despite my naivete of the virus in those early days, we still had to support researchers with swift, precise responses. To compensate for gaps in knowledge, we formed a Research Compliance & Safety Committee. Read more
