Research on COVID-19: Stories from IRB Members, Research Administrators & Investigators.

This symposium is separated into two sections. The first includes twelve personal stories from IRB members, administrators, or staff about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second section includes twelve personal stories from researchers. Six commentaries on these narratives are offered by experts in research ethics, regulatory oversite, IRB administration, the logistics of clinical research, and investigator responsibilities. These narratives and commentaries offer an inside look at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the physical logistics of clinical research already underway, demanded immediate investment in scientific investigation of vaccines and treatments, and rerouted the usual decision pathways that guide ethical practice.

Human Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights From Behind-the-Scenes.

The researchers' stories collected here demonstrate how many ethical and practical challenges routinely associated with conducting human research were amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges include designing studies to minimize risks and maximize potential benefits, working with institutional review boards (IRBs), recruiting and enrolling participants, obtaining valid informed consent, promoting data integrity, managing budget constraints, and finding time to fulfill research obligations along with other duties. By offering insights about not only the barriers and challenges researchers encountered but also the creative solutions they and their colleagues found to conduct research, this behind-the-scenes peek at researchers' experiences helps us to identify barriers and potential lasting improvements for human subjects research even in the best of times.