Challenges of Research Ethics Committees in the Arab Region

Abstract

In the last decade health research, including international clinical trials, has increased greatly in the Arab region. However, commentators have voiced concerns that many RECs in this region might not be able to promote high standards of human subject protection due to several challenges that they face. These challenges include the lack of an enabling legal framework at the national level, inadequate institutional support that includes appropriate human and capital resources, insufficient training of members to review studies, inadequate membership diversity, lack of transparency and accountability mechanisms, absence of internal quality improvement programs, and 1lack of assessment mechanisms. We offer several solutions to address these challenges.