Why is there a Research Ethics Consultation Service at UTMB?
There has been much growth in the amount of clinical research being done in recent years. Along with this growth has come increased public awareness of research being done, and the potential for serious harm to people that volunteer to be subjects in research. This has led to questions as to how much the public trusts researchers to protect human subjects. Compliance and regulation have an essential role in protecting human subjects in research. But compliance needs to be seen within the larger context of an institution’s culture in order to more fully affirm that the research community is worthy of the public’s trust. When a university’s culture routinely pursues excellence, integrity, service to the community and moral accountability in its projects, then rules and regulations that command compliance fit comfortably within this larger ethical framework. Here science and ethics are not in conflict, but inform one another and work together to nurture strong relationships in a community
