Types of Ethics Committees in Research

Research ethics committees are independent governance bodies established to review and oversee human subjects research. In the United States, these are called Institutional Review Boards (IRBs); in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth nations, Research Ethics Committees (RECs); and in European Union and other jurisdictions, they are termed Ethics Committees. These bodies operate under national regulations—45 CFR 46 in the U.S., the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations in the UK, and the EU Clinical Trials Regulation in Europe—to ensure research protects participant rights, safety, and welfare.