Thread by @Mathur_Roli

1/12. Covid-19 @ICMRDELHI responded early with ethical guidance suggesting no compromise on ethics or scientific validity & encourage research. Urged institutions to use innovative tech to support quality research with ethical safeguards @DeptHealthRes
ethics.ncdirindia.org/ICMR_Ethical_G…

2/12. @ICMRDELHI ethics initiatives in @WHO @UNESCO #GlobalSummit. National Guidelines for Ethics Committees reviewing #Covid_19 research downloaded >30 countries from @ncdirindia website. Among1st such guidance in world @doctorsoumya @drharshvardhan @ProfBhargava @NITIAayog

3/12. Standard operating procedures (#SOPs) prepared and adopted by #Ethics Committees to facilitate fast track review through digital platforms & virtual quorum. Facilitated emergency unscheduled or full committee or #expedited meetings.

4/12. Reconstitution of Central Ethics Committee on Human Research with members, alternate members, independent consultants, subject experts for virtual scientific & ethics review. SOPs adopted for rapid review ensuring quality & participant safety. Turn around time 24-72 hrs.

5/12. Use of common ethics committee forms prepared by @ICMRDELHI #bioethics Unit, @ncdirindia & @THSTIFaridabad to facilitate protocol submission, ensuring completeness, saving time, useful #checklists, especially important for multicentric research ethics.ncdirindia.org/Common_forms_f…

6/12. Common review of #multicentre #research using designated ethics committee for full review to be followed by expedited review at local study sites taking care of site specific participant concerns, socio cultural issues, language translations, implementation, monitoring.

7/12. #Electronic #Informedconsent process suggested alongwith using digital or other #innovative methods, technology, #Audiovisual tools, telephonic or other methods to better communicate information, improve understanding, obtain consent without physical contact

8/12. Virtual ethics committee meetings with shorter agendas, but meeting more frequently, use of digital tech for recording minutes, attendance, taking care of Conflict of interest issues and suggesting benefit sharing as applicable after completion of research.

9/12. Ongoing research or non Covid research to continue by adapting needful changes in methodology due to changed scenario, avoiding personal contact or transmission & ensuring safety of participants. Research to continue and not to suffer due to #covidisation

10/12. Although #CTRI registration is mandated for #clinicaltrials registered with @CDSCO_INDIA_INF, as a good practice and to ensure better transparency, it was suggested that for all Covid-19 research to be registered. EC register @DeptHealthRes & @Director_NABH accreditation

11/12. Guidelines highlight the need for #communityengagement, improved #collaboration, protection of #vulnerable, safety of #HCW , #psychological support, prevent #stigma #Discrimination, improve #compassion, improved #communication to build #publictrust

12/12 Ethics Preparedness in India in regard to Covid-19 discussed in
ijmr.org.in/article.asp?is…