Caribbean Network of Research Ethics Committees

Models for Communication and Collaboration


There are three models that can be used for communication and collaboration between CANREC members involved in evaluating research proposals that span their various jurisdictions. For these models to function effectively the following should be taken into consideration:

1. Review by Several RECs/IRBs

  • Committees can work together and coordinate the review;
  • A communication method or tool must be decided on;
  • The Principal Investigator (PI) should address any inconsistencies across the submissions;
  • A form must be designed on which the PI can list:
    • Names of RECs/IRBs involved;
    • Contact details for the RECs/IRBs that the research proposal to be reviewed will be submitted to, and this should be made available to all parties.

2. Review Delegated to an External or Multi-institutional REC/IRB

  • Here, the countries or institutions facilitate ethical review by one Committee, whether nationally or regionally;
  • A communication agreement (Reliance Agreement) is to be drafted and used between all the relevant committees.

3.Reciprocal REC/IRB Review

  • Here, official agreements may be used between participating RECs/IRBs to accept each other’s ethical review. This can be across the board, or on a case-by-case basis.

Notes

In choosing the appropriate review model, always consider the research context, and the characteristics of the population.

Issues to Consider

  1. The discipline & content area of the research, and availability of appropriate experience & expertise available to the reviewing RECs/IRBs;
  2. The scope of the project;
  3. The vulnerability of the study population;
  4. The particular characteristics of the local population at the individual sites, including any differences in values and cultural norms;
  5. The level of risk associated with the research;
  6. Any relevant differences in laws related to the research where the institutions are in different countries;
  7. Conflict resolution mechanisms related to decisions by the RECs/IRBs.

Communication and Collaboration Under Emergency Conditions

Aarons, D. Research in epidemic and emergency situations: A model for collaboration and expediting ethics review in two Caribbean countries. Developing World Bioethics, 2017

Members' Contact Information


Anguilla

Dr. Aisha Andrewin
c/o IRB Chair
aisha.andrewin@gov.ai

Bahamas

Ms. Janet Hall
c/o Ethics Secretariat
janethall008@yahoo.com

Barbados

Dr. Mike Campbell
Chair
c/o Campus Research Ethics Committee, Cave Hill, Barbados dr.mike.campbell@gmail.com michael.campbell@cavehill.uwi.edu

Kristina Bryant
Secretary
c/o Campus Research Ethics Committee, Cave Hill, Barbados kristina.bryant@cavehill.uwi.edu

Belize

Dr. Gerado Aldana
Chair
Hummingbird Ave P.O. Box 340, Belmopan Cayo District, Belize Central America Belize galdana@ub.edu.bz gerardo.aldanajr@gmail.com
+501 8243775 ext. 4005
+5016258261

Dr. Danladi Husaini
Vice Chair
dhusaini@ub.edu.bz

Guyana

Michelle France
Michfran69@yahoo.co.uk

Pauline Howard
Ssw.moipa5@gmail.com

Dr. Dawn Stewart
Buckie920@aol.com

Michelle Smith
Administrator
Michellesmith1257@gmail.com

St. Lucia

Dr. Sherry Ephraim-Le Compte
c/o Ethics Committee Chair
ephraim.sherry@gmail.com

St. Vincent & the Grenedines

Dr. Sherry Ephraim-Le Compte
Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache
Chief Medical Officer/ Chair - Research and Ethics Committee
Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment
skeizerbeachem@gmail.com
mosimi@vincysurf.com

cc: Dr. Tamara Bobb
Epidemiologist, Ministry of Health
tamara.bobb@hotmail.com

Trinidad & Tobago

University of the Southern Caribbean
Ms. Gersha Pierre
c/o University of the Southern Caribbean IRB Chair
pierreg@usc.edu.tt


Dr. Susan Chand
Co-Chair
USC-IRB chands@usc.edu.tt
1-868-662-2241/42 Ext 1655 (Office)

University of Trinidad & Tobago
Dr. Vashti Singh
c/o University of Trinidad & Tobago
IRB Chair
vashti.singh@utt.edu.tt

University of the West Indies
Prof Jerome De Lisle
Chair
UWI Campus Research Ethics Committee
St. Augustine Trinidad and Tobago
jeromedelisle@yahoo.com


Tennille Fanovich (Ms.)
Secretary
UWI Campus Research Ethics Committee
St. Augustine Trinidad and Tobago campusethics@sta.uwi.edu https://sta.uwi.edu/research/campus-ethics
868-662-2002 EXT 82755 749-4880 mobile


Emily Dick-Forde
Chair
UWI Campus Research Ethics Committee, Open Campus emily.dick-forde@open.uwi.edu

North Central Regional Health Authority
Dr. Chavin Gopaul
Head – Public Health Observatory NCRHA
c/o North Central Regional Health Authority Ethics Committee Member generalmgr.ppr@ncrha.co.tt
hod.pho@ncrha.co.tt

Akil Williams akil.joseph.williams@outlook.com epidemiologist.pho@ncrha.co.tt

Eastern Regional Health Authority
Dr. Cindy Ann Badaloo
Chairman
Eastern Regional Health Authority REC Chair
cindybadaloo@yahoo.com

cc: Mr. Keston Daniel
Vice Chair
kestondaniel@yahoo.com
JAA.PHO@erha.co.tt

North-West Regional Health Authority
North-West Regional Health Authority REC
Secretariat
health.services@nwrha.co.tt hprp.ethicscommittee@nwrha.gov.tt
https://www.nwrha.co.tt/guidelines-for-conducting-ethical-research/
(868) 625-1295, 627-2874, 624-7134 or 627-2278 Ext. 1215

Antigua & Barbuda

Mr. Colin O'Keiffe
c/o IRB Chair
anuirb@gmail.com

Bermuda

Dr. Richard Fulton
c/o IRB Chair
rcfulton78@googlemail.com

cc: Dr. Shawnee Basden
Chair, BHB Research Ethics Sub-committee
Shawnee.basden@bhb.bm
239-1180

Grenada

Dr. Maira Du Plessis
c/o IRB Chair
mdupless@sgu.edu

cc: Mr. Kareem Coonamsingh,MPH
IRB Adminsitrator
St. George's University IRB True Blue St. George Grenada kcoomans@sgu.edu Karcoomansingh@gmail.com
(473) 444-4175 x 3221 / 1-1473-449-9295
https://www.sgu.edu/research/institutional-review-board/

Jamaica

Ministry of Health
Professor Archibald McDonald
Chairman
National Advisory Panel on Ethics and Medicolegal Affairs ostcmorgan@yahoo.com


Mrs. Cynthia Lewis Graham
Director, Standards & Regulation
Ministry of Health grahamc@moh.gov.jm

cc Ms. Elizabeth Anderson
elizabethkellyanderson2@gmail.com


Mrs. Stacian Williams-Maitland
Research Officer
Advisory Panel on Ethics & Medico-Legal Affairs
Ministry of Health & Wellness 45 – 47 Barbados Avenue Kingston Jamaica williamsst@moh.gov.jm officerresearch2017@gmail.com
1-876-344-3130
1-876-466-6525

UWI, Mona
Professor Helen Trotman-Edwards
Chair
Campus Research Committee, Mona Jamaica mcrec-chair@uwimona.edu.jm https://www.mona.uwi.edu/mcrec/


Dr. Georgiana Gordon Strachan
Co-Chair
c/o Campus Research Committee, Mona Jamaica georgiana.gordonstrachan@uwimona.edu.jm https://www.mona.uwi.edu/mcrec/


Mrs Elva Langott-Latham
Ethics Administrator
Campus Research Committee, Mona Jamaica mcrec@uwimona.edu.jm
876 873-7431

Ministry of National Security
Ms. Racquel Artwell
c/o Ministry of National Security Ethics
Committee Chair
racquel.artwell@mns.gov.jm LauraPlunkett@mns.gov.jm
876-906-4908 ext 3090 or 876-619-1265

University of Technology (UTech)
Mr. Balford Lewis
c/o University of Technology (UTech)
Research Ethics Committee Chair
blewis@utech.edu.jm balfordlewis@yahoo.com

Turks & Caicos Islands

Mrs. Mary Forbes
c/o Health Research Committee Chair
wmdforbes@hotmail.com temaitland@gmail.com

Dr. Shandey Malcolm
sdmalcolm@gov.tc

Copy: Florinda Talbot
fltalbot@gov.tc
649-338-5129 (work)

Dr. Henry Blythe
Chairman
Ethics Committee
Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital
PO Box 1044 Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands hblythe@interhealthcanada.tc
1-649-232-9561
1-649-941-2800

Regional: CARPHA

Dr. Andrea Kanneh
Chair

Dr. Michael Campbell
Co-Chair

Ms. Kevah Alexander
Secretariat


canrecsecretariat@carpha.org https://carpha.org/What-We-Do/Networks/CANREC/Caribbean-Network-of-Research-Ethics-Committees
622-0895 ext 40204