logo
Science Portal
Copyright © Médecins Sans Frontières
v2.1.5145.produseast1
About MSF Science Portal
About
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Copyright © Médecins Sans Frontières
v2.1.5145.produseast1
Research ethics governance in times of Ebola | Journal Article / Commentary | MSF Science Portal
Journal Article
|Commentary

Research ethics governance in times of Ebola

Schopper D, Ravinetto R, Schwartz L, Kamaara E, Sheel S, Segelid MJ, Ahmad ASI, Dawson A, Singh JA, Jesani A, Upshur R
Download

Similar Content
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Abstract
The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) ethics review board (ERB) has been solicited in an unprecedented way to provide advice and review research protocols in an 'emergency' mode during the recent Ebola epidemic. Twenty-seven Ebola-related study protocols were reviewed between March 2014 and August 2015, ranging from epidemiological research, to behavioural research, infectivity studies and clinical trials with investigational products at (very) early development stages. This article examines the MSF ERB's experience addressing issues related to both the process of review and substantive ethical issues in this context. These topics include lack of policies regarding blood sample collection and use, and engaging communities regarding their storage and future use; exclusion of pregnant women from clinical and vaccine trials; and the difficulty of implementing timely and high-quality qualitative/anthropological research to consider potential upfront harms. Having noticed different standards across ethics committees (ECs), we propose that when multiple ethics reviews of clinical and vaccine trials are carried out during a public health emergency they should be accompanied by transparent communication between the ECs involved. The MSF ERB experience should trigger a broader discussion on the 'optimal' ethics review in an emergency outbreak and what enduring structural changes are needed to improve the ethics review process.

Subject Area

Ebolaresearch ethics

Languages

English
DOI
10.1093/phe/phw039
Published Date
01 Nov 2016
PubMed ID
28567113
Journal
Public Health Ethics
Volume | Issue | Pages
Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages 49-61
Dimensions Badge