Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), also referred to as, Institutional Review Board (IRB), Ethics Review Board (ERB) and Research Ethics Board (REB) across many countries and situations, serves as an independent and competent body to review, evaluate and decide on the scientific and ethical merits of research proposals. The primary purpose of the IEC is to protect the rights, safety and well-being of human subjects who participate in a research project. The IECs are entrusted with the initial review of the proposed research protocols prior to initiation of the projects and also have a continuing responsibility of regular monitoring of the approved research projects until they are completed. The function of the IECs is in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki by the World Medical Association (WMA) in 1964.
Introduction
Tech4Health Foundation's IEC
The Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) of the Tech4Health Foundation, constituted in June 2024, is recognized as a registered body by the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. The provisional registration certificate for Tech4Health Foundation’s IEC can be found here. The purpose of the IEC is to protect human subjects through ensuring the highest ethical standards and conduct in research carried out by researchers across India.
The IEC is headed by a Chairperson and supported by nine other members including the Member Secretary. The composition of the IEC is a mix of members from different disciplines including public health specialists, social scientists, medical doctors/clinicians, pharmacologists, bioengineers biotechnologists, legal experts, lay persons, and other supporting members.
As recommended in the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines, the basic responsibility of the IEC is “to ensure the protection of the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of the research participants” (ICMR 2017, p 33). Guided by the recommendations of the ICMR, the purpose of the IEC of Tech4Health Foundation is to review research involving human participants, to ensure that subjects’ safety, rights, and welfare are protected in conformity with applicable regulations and guidelines issued by the ICMR, Indian state and local laws and regulations where such laws or regulations provide protection for human subjects that exceed the protection afforded under national law.
The SOP for the Tech4Health Foundation’s IEC can be downloaded here.
Features and Functionality
Fast Turnaround
Paperless System
Diverse Expertise
Data Protection
Tech4Health Foundation's IEC Members
Dr Sangeeta Sharma
Professor & Head, Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi
Dr Chand Wattal
Chairperson, Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi
Dr Ambujam Nair Kapoor
Ex Senior Advisor, Immunization Techinal Support Unit - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Public Health Foundation of India
Dr Deepshikha
Fellow, One Health Trust, Bengaluru
Adv TK Ramkumar
Advocate, Ram & Rajan Associates, Chennai
Dr Varun Manhas
Associate Director of Public Health Programs, One Health Trust, Bengaluru
Ms Seshadri Dutta
Research Analyst, One Health Trust, Bengaluru.
Mr Saptarshee Mazumdar
Assistant Professor, St Claret College, Bengaluru
Ms Astha Singh
Associate Director of Development, One Health Trust, Bengaluru