Caribbean Network of Research Ethics Committees

Terms of Reference

1. Establishment of the Network

   The Network is established by the cooperation of Research Ethics Committees/IRBs across the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Member States.

2. Purpose of the Network

   To provide a sustainable infrastructure for research ethics committees/IRBs within CARPHA member states to promote, exchange, and cooperate intra-regionally and internationally in matters of research and research ethics.
   
   To provide harmonization of multidisciplinary ethical reviews between network members to improve the protection of human participants in all aspects of research involving human beings, human material and data.
   
   To lend support as appropriate to the development of capacity for the ethical review of research in the areas of environmental health, biosafety and animal care.
   
   To augment the sharing of information and intellectual resources, policies, and review strategies among network members.

3. Objectives of the Network

   • Collect information on research ethics committees in CARPHA member states to build a basis for mutual exchange
   • Collect, evaluate, and share training materials and related information for research ethics committee/IRB members to enhance the quality of protocol review
   • Facilitate exchanges of knowledge, ‘know-how’, and information among network members
   • Provide technical assistance/advice on matters related to research ethics in CARPHA member states, in conjunction with CARPHA
   • Facilitate the ethical review of multi-country studies in conjunction with CARPHA
   • Conduct capacity-building to facilitate the development of national research ethics committee networks
   • Identify emerging ethical issues to develop common solutions for challenges posed by new technologies and scientific methodologies
   • Provide a Regional Registry for all research approved in the region served by CARPHA member states

4. Membership Composition

   Membership shall be open to all national, regional, and institutional research ethics committees/IRBs in CARPHA member states.

5. Modus Operandi of the Network

   The Secretariat of the Network shall reside under the Office of the Executive Director, the Caribbean Public Health Agency. An Executive Committee elected by members of CANREC shall provide technical guidance and oversight of the work of CANREC. The Executive Committee shall constitute five (5) members on staggered terms to ensure continuity and be elected by CANREC members every  3 years. The  Executive Committee and CARPHA, shall be responsible for coordinating the work of the network and communicating with member RECs/IRBs about pertinent matters. A webpage for the Network shall be established and maintained by the Caribbean Public Health Agency on its website.