A syllabus for research ethics committees: training needs and resources in different European countries

Area of Science:

• Clinical Research Ethics
• Good Clinical Practice Training

Background:

• A 2011 workshop convened by the European Forum for Good Clinical Practice addressed critical needs in research ethics committee (REC) training.
• Existing training lacked a standardized syllabus, leading to inconsistencies in ethical review processes across member states.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive training syllabus for research ethics committees.
• To identify specific training needs and available resources for each competency.
• To address challenges, particularly funding, in implementing effective REC training.

Main Methods:

• The workshop focused on developing a syllabus structured around four core competencies: committee working, scientific method, ethical analysis, and the regulatory framework.
• Discussions involved identifying training needs for each competency and exploring potential resources.
• Affordable alternatives to traditional training methods were debated to overcome funding limitations.

Main Results:

• A four-competency syllabus for research ethics committee training was successfully developed.
• Specific training needs and potential resources were identified for each competency area.
• Lack of funding was identified as a significant barrier, with affordable alternatives proposed and discussed.

Conclusions:

• The developed syllabus provides a structured framework for enhancing research ethics committee training.
• Addressing funding gaps through affordable alternatives is crucial for widespread implementation.
• The proposed training framework will be disseminated through the European Forum for Good Clinical Practice and national RECs to improve ethical oversight in clinical research.