Rethinking ethical reflexivity and oversight in health research through an ecosystem approach: A workshop report

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Health Research Ethics
• Research Governance

Background:

• The evolving landscape of health innovation presents new ethical challenges.
• Questions arise regarding the scope and role of research ethics review within the broader research ecosystem.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for distributed approaches to ethical scrutiny and reflexivity in research.
• To foster collaborative relationships between researchers and ethics committees.
• To reconceptualize the role of ethics committees in promoting participant agency and the common good.

Main Methods:

• Discussion at a satellite meeting during the 2022 Global Forum on Bioethics in Research.
• Analysis of stakeholder responsibilities in the research ecosystem.

Main Results:

• Ethical research conduct is the responsibility of all stakeholders, not solely ethics committees.
• A shift towards distributed ethical scrutiny and reflexivity is necessary.
• Collaborative, non-adversarial relationships between researchers and ethics committees are crucial.

Conclusions:

• Embracing shared responsibility and collaborative models enhances ethical research conduct.
• Ethics committees should partner with communities to focus on participant agency and the common good.
• Distributed approaches strengthen the ethical foundation of health innovation.