Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41032647›Full record

ArticleJournal of empirical research on human research ethics : JERHRE2025

A Scoping Review of Empirical Research on Research Ethics Board Membership and Expertise.

Emma Tumilty, Jake Young, Richard James, Kimberley Serpico, Ann Johnson, Emily E Anderson

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of empirical research on human research ethics : JERHRE, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Emma TumiltyDepartment of Bioethics and Health Humanities, School of Population and Public Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4132-6467
Jake YoungAmerican Medical Association, Chicago, IL, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7439-7395
Richard JamesNemours Medical Libraries, Nemours Children's Health, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.
Kimberley SerpicoOffice of Regulatory Affairs and Research Compliance, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0755-2233
Ann JohnsonInstitutional Review Board & Human Research Protections Program, University of Utah, East Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Emily E AndersonNeiswanger Institute for Bioethics, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2197-1239

Funding

UTMB Clinical and Translational Science AwardUL1TR001439 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON · PI URBAN, RANDALL J · 2015 to 2024
$40.0M
Strengthening Stakeholder Engagement in Human Research Protections.UL1TR002003 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · PI KARNIK, NIRANJAN SUBHASH, MERMELSTEIN, ROBIN J. · 2016 to 2024
$33.7M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001439NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR002003
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

REB membership and its local idioculture play a key role in the decisions made. Little evidence exists as to what composition of membership expertise and training creates the conditions for a board to be most effective. This scoping review of the empirical research on REB membership and expertise aims to outline what evidence has been gathered and what gaps exist. Our main research question was: What empirical research exists on how research ethics boards (REBs) identify and train members and ensure they have adequate expertise to review research protocols? We found a small and diverse body of literature from around the world. We summarized findings in four themes: scientific expertise, ethical, legal and regulatory training and expertise, diversity of identity and perspectives, and engagement with research participant perspectives. Studies reviewed identified issues for all aspects of membership expertise and training. Further work is needed to establish best practices.

Indexed as

Committee MembershipEthics Committees, ResearchEthics, ResearchProfessional CompetenceEmpirical ResearchHumansfederal policies/Guidelines/Office of human research protectionsIRB performance/Quality/Assessment/Evaluationotherresearch ethicsresearch ethics committee/IRB review

Identifiers

PMID41032647
PMCPMC12490803

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.