Frontiers in Medicine (Nov 2021)

Challenges During Review of COVID-19 Research Proposals: Experience of Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University Research Ethics Committee, Egypt

  • Diaa Marzouk,
  • Iman Sharawy,
  • Isabelle Nakhla,
  • Mostafa El Hodhod,
  • Mostafa El Hodhod,
  • Hoda Gadallah,
  • Amr El-Shalakany,
  • Reda Elwakil,
  • Mohammed M. Moussa,
  • Alaa Ismail,
  • Fathy M. Tash

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.715796
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an overwhelming increase in research studies submitted to research ethics committees (RECs) presenting many ethical challenges. This article aims to report the challenges encountered during review of COVID-19 research and the experience of the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University Research Ethics Committee (FMASU REC). From April 10, 2020, until October 13, 2020, the FMASU REC reviewed 98 COVID-19 research protocols. This article addressed the question of how to face an overwhelming amount of research submitted to the REC while applying the required ethical principles. Ethical challenges included a new accelerated mode of review, online meetings, balance of risks vs. benefits, measures to mitigate risks, co-enrolment in different studies, protection of a vulnerable COVID-19 population, accelerated decisions, online research, how to handle informed consent during the pandemic, and justification of placebo arm.

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