REVIEW GUIDELINES

The National Research Ethics Board (NREB) of Liberia follows specific review guidelines to ensure the ethical conduct of research involving human subjects. These guidelines provide detailed instructions and criteria for researchers and ethics review committees to follow when submitting and evaluating research proposals. Here are some commonly used review guidelines:

1. Submission Process:
   • Outline the procedures for researchers to submit research proposals for ethical review, including the required documents, forms, and submission deadlines.
   • Specify the format and content requirements for research proposals, such as the research protocol, informed consent documents, participant recruitment materials, and data collection instruments.
2. Review Criteria:
   • Define the ethical review criteria that will be used to evaluate research proposals, including informed consent, beneficence, justice, privacy, confidentiality, respect for participants’ rights, scientific validity, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
   • Provide detailed explanations and examples of each review criterion to guide reviewers in their assessment of research proposals.
3. Review Process:
   • Describe the procedures for conducting ethical reviews, including the composition of the ethics review committee, the review timeline, and the methods for evaluating research proposals.
   • Specify the steps involved in the review process, such as initial screening, full committee review, and communication of decisions to researchers.
4. Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest:
   • Address issues related to confidentiality and conflict of interest in the review process, including procedures for handling sensitive information and conflicts of interest among ethics review committee members.
   • Ensure that reviewers maintain confidentiality and impartiality throughout the review process and disclose any conflicts of interest that may influence their decisions.
5. Communication with Researchers:
   • Outline the communication process between the ethics review committee and researchers, including the notification of review outcomes, requests for revisions or clarifications, and the resolution of ethical concerns.
   • Provide guidance to researchers on responding to feedback from the ethics review committee and addressing ethical issues raised during the review process.
6. Decision-making and Appeals:
   • Define the criteria for making decisions on research proposals, such as approval, conditional approval pending revisions, or rejection.
   • Specify the procedures for researchers to appeal decisions or seek reconsideration of ethical review outcomes, including the submission of additional information or documentation.
7. Training and Capacity Building:
   • Offer training and capacity-building opportunities for researchers, ethics review committee members, and other stakeholders to enhance their understanding of ethical principles and research regulations.
   • Provide resources, guidance, and support to help researchers prepare high-quality research proposals and navigate the ethical review process effectively.

These review guidelines help ensure consistency, transparency, and rigor in the ethical review of research proposals by the NREB of Liberia. They provide a framework for promoting ethical conduct in research and protecting the rights and welfare of research participants.