Challenges of Clinical Research Administration During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In early 2020, clinicians and researchers rushed to understand the SARS-CoV-2 virus and how to go about treating and preventing it. Caring for patients while simultaneously learning about a disease not seen before created challenges on several levels. Much of the spotlight was on the researchers doing this critical work; however, these narratives remind us of the enormous effort and commitment shown by IRB members and research administrators responsible for research infrastructure. Despite the sense of urgency and obligation to plan and conduct clinical research during the pandemic, IRBs guaranteed that researchers still adhered to the core ethical principles that protect the rights and welfare of human subjects so that critical research could continue. Many themes emerge in these stories, including the need for flexibility in processes for both staff and research participants and the perception that IRB members serve as "research gatekeepers." With approaches to clinical research evolving, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may be the catalyst needed to make sustainable improvements to our research processes, roles, and goals.