Earlier this spring, the Maine Regulatory Training and Ethics Center (MeRTEC) launched the COVID-19 Learning IRB, a free, nonprofit “learning” IRB to review COVID-19 related research. To learn more about this initiative, we interviewed Stephen Rosenfeld, MD, a partner in the initiative and a PRIM&R board member. Read more
I had pondered my role on the 2018 IACUC Conference Blog Squad multiple times in the days leading up to the event and throughout the three days of the meeting. My musings, and a conversation with my niece about the work we do, led me to one of those extraordinary “Aha!” moments. Read more
The keynote address at PRIM&R's IACUC Conference by Alison Rockett Frase and Dr. Martin (Casey) K. Childers really should have come with a Kleenex alert! Those of us in attendance all know that research with animals can lead to major advances in treatment for a variety of health issues. Hearing Ms. Frase’s firsthand account of her son's battle with a rare neuromuscular disorder and Dr. Childer’s follow-up description of their search for a treatment or cure for centronuclear and myotubular myopathies was truly inspiring. If you’ve not yet seen the video about their journey please stop what you are doing, close your office door, grab a hankie and watch their video. I dare say there were very few dry eyes in the room at the end of their presentation at IACUC18, and there was a communal feeling of wanting to shout: “Yes, Yes, Yes! This is why we do what we do!” Read more
You are the director of human research protection at a community hospital. You have one IRB with seven members. Six of the members are physicians with staff privileges at your hospital. The seventh member, a representative from the community, just resigned from the IRB. Six qualified people have applied to fill the empty seat: a bioethicist, a minister, a former study participant, a community leader, a sociologist, and a member of a disadvantaged group served by the hospital. Because of a hospital policy that is set in stone, you can accept only one new IRB member. Read more
In early 2014, PRIM&R explored the topic of what we call individuals who volunteer for research in a post titled "What’s in a name? Research 'participant' versus research 'subject'." In this post, PRIM&R concludes that, on the whole, "subject" is the most appropriate title for those involved in research studies (recognizing, however, that in some instances "participant " may be appropriate; for example, in community-based participatory and participant-led research). Herein we present the contrasting points of view of three individuals. Read more
