Full board review

A research application that is deemed to pose ‘more-than-minimal risk’ will be scheduled for full board review. This means that ethics committee members will come together in a formal meeting to discuss about the application and reach a consensus regarding its outcome.

A quorum is usually require for a full board review. The reviewers should come from different ethnicities and consist of both males and females. They should also include: ^(5,6) 

at least one person whose primary field of knowledge is in the medical sciences (e.g. a doctor) at least one person whose background is non-medical / non-scientific (e.g. a lawyer) at least one person who is not affiliated to the research institution (e.g. a lay member of the public)

While members of an ethics committee are selected to cover a wide range of specialties, it may not be possible, nor essential, to review an application in the presence of an expert in that particular research area. ⁽⁷⁾ However, the panel may decide to invite an independent expert when it is considered necessary, such as when an application involves a very niche area.

Any reviewers who have a conflict of interests (for example, due to personal acquaintance with a researcher who is seeking ethics approval) will be asked to excuse him / herself from the deliberation of an application. 

Principle investigators are often called to attend the full board meeting so that they can provide further clarification regarding their research applications.

Attending an ethics review meeting →