Review of biomedical, health research proposals can be fast-tracked in emergency situation: ICMR

Review of biomedical and health research proposals can be fast-tracked in an emergency situation, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, while ensuring strict monitoring of the conduct of research, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said.

In its recently released 'Guidelines for Ethics Committees Reviewing Biomedical and Health Research during COVID-19 pandemic', the apex health research body said review of multi-centre research in India can be carried out by one main designated ethics panel for fast-track decision making.

"Common review is generally carried out for research involving low or minimal risk, survey or multi-centric studies using anonymised samples or data or those that are public health research studies determined to have low or minimal risk.

"However, in an emergency situation like the current one, for all types of research including high-risk studies or those involving vulnerable population can be taken up for fast-track common review while ensuring strict ...