"Who Are You Going to Call?"

Introduction

Research ethics consultation services (RECS) provide important ethical guidance to various entities, including investigators and Institutional Review Boards. Established in the late 1980s and influenced by funding requirements from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS), RECS have evolved to address ethical challenges in research. This study aimed to identify key barriers and facilitators affecting the success of RECS, particularly in light of changes in funding and institutional support.

Materials and Methods

From a comprehensive list of 55 Clinical and Translational Science Award programs (CTSA), 20 REC were purposively sampled for in-depth interviews. Interviews focused on primary functions, accomplishments, barriers, and facilitators of the service. We performed an abductive analysis on transcribed data.

Results

Twenty-two research ethics consultants from 20 institutions participated. Respondents emphasized their services' goal of facilitating ethical research, though many faced barriers such as underutilization and lack of awareness among researchers. Facilitators included institutional support and funding. Support often was contingent on institutional leadership facilitating the service into the university's research enterprise. Participants reported accomplishments, including successful consultations and contributions to institutional policies.

Discussion

Our findings indicate that RECS play a crucial role in supporting ethical research practices, though their effectiveness is often contingent on institutional relationships and funding. Key recommendations include tracking consults, defining consultation outcomes, and fostering the development of new consultants to sustain the field of research ethics.