Rethinking ethical reflexivity and oversight in health research through an ecosystem approach: A workshop report
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17470161
eISSN
20476094
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105024478122
Journal Title
Research Ethics
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Research Ethics (2025)
Suggested Citation
Wright K., Ali J., Atuire C., Cheah P.Y., Chiumento A., Ferretti A., Hunt A., Kaur S., Knowles R.L., Krubiner C.B., Luna F., Ndebele P., Palmero A., Shaw J., Vayena E., Voo T.C., de Vries J., Littler K. Rethinking ethical reflexivity and oversight in health research through an ecosystem approach: A workshop report. Research Ethics (2025). doi:10.1177/17470161251346253 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/113595
Title
Rethinking ethical reflexivity and oversight in health research through an ecosystem approach: A workshop report
Author's Affiliation
University of Toronto
University of Oxford
Johns Hopkins University
ETH Zürich
The University of Edinburgh
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
University of Cape Town
Universiti Malaya
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
The George Washington University
Mahidol University
Medical Research Council
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
University of Ghana
Wellcome Trust
Singapore Health Services
Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales SEDE Argentina
University of Oxford
Johns Hopkins University
ETH Zürich
The University of Edinburgh
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
University of Cape Town
Universiti Malaya
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
The George Washington University
Mahidol University
Medical Research Council
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
University of Ghana
Wellcome Trust
Singapore Health Services
Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales SEDE Argentina
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
As the scope of morally relevant considerations widens and new challenges emerge at the frontiers of health innovation, there are questions about the appropriate role and remit for research ethics review, within the broader context of the whole health research ecosystem. Drawing on discussion at a satellite meeting at the 2022 Global Forum on Bioethics in Research in Cape Town, we argue that the ethical conduct of research is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the research ecosystem – from funders, governments and research institutions to individual research teams and ethics committees. As a research community we need to espouse, and take action to achieve, more distributed approaches to ethical scrutiny and reflexivity. A crucial element of such a shift should be the development of collaborative and non-adversarial relationships between researchers and ethics committees that recognise and respect the mutual responsibilities of all parties to promote ethical research conduct. In tandem with the development of systems to support the exercise of ethical responsibilities across the research ecosystem, committees need to reconceptualise their role, in partnership with communities, as one of providing accountability through a focus on how research promotes participant agency and the common good.