During sudden, global crises, when confronted with limited resources and increasing workloads, research ethics committees (RECs) may face significant challenges related to the ethical reviews of protocols.

The “How-to guidelines” offer guidance on how RECs can adjust their ethical review process during global crises. The guidance outlines a framework for prioritising research protocols, addressing the necessary structural and procedural changes, and suggesting criteria for revised approaches. The report is based on a global survey of RECs and existing literature, with the goal of helping committees prepare for future crises.

The second report identifies a key challenge faced by RECs during the pandemic: a lack of stable funding. Based on a global survey of over 300 RECs, the authors argue that this financial instability significantly hindered their ability to conduct ethical reviews. This paper calls for key financial stakeholders – such as institutional leaders and policymakers – to provide consistent, long-term funding to RECs to ensure they can function effectively in future crises.