Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), also referred to as, Institutional Review Board (IRB), Ethics Review Board (ERB) and Research Ethics Board (REB) in many countries and situations, serves as an independent representative and competent body to review, evaluate and decide on the scientific and ethical merits of research proposals.
Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) is the committee formed of a group of people who go through the research protocol / proposal and state whether or not it is ethically acceptable.

Purpose

The IEC has been established to formalize and specify the Institution’s commitment to promotion of high ethical standards in clinical research, and teaching.

Mandate

The IEC through its delegated sub-committees functions independently for maintaining consistent ethical framework in research, and in the integration of ethical values into practice, policy relationships, and organizational activities.

• The purpose of IEC is to cultivate a pluralistic and democratic exchange of ethical values, concerns and to critically analyze them looking for opportunities to enhance the ethical integrity of the Institution.
• The mandate of IEC, KBIHER essentially targets ethical aspects of research and education.

The terms of reference for the IEC are as follows:

1. To ensure that all proposed research projects conform to standard national and international ethical guidelines and that dignity, right and wellbeing of research participants is protected.
2. To initiate and commission research studies on ethical aspects of practice in KBIHER.
3. Continuing education in research bioethics and ethical aspects of clinical practice by seminars, workshops and interactive discussions for all categories of staff members including nursing and paramedical staff.
4. The Ethics committee endeavours to produce guidance on a broad range of topics.
5. Assessments of risk benefit ratio, informed consent process etc. are some examples.
6. The committee does not address or interfere in matters of an administrative nature, nor does the committee function as a grievance cell for staff members.

Responsibility

IEC has responsibility within the institution with the following objectives:

• To ensure the competent review and evaluation of all ethical aspects of research projects received, to ensure compliance with the appropriate laws and safeguard welfare of subjects.
• Clinical ethics consultation.
• Education of professional, administrative, and support staff about ethical issues.
• Creation, developing revising and implementing ethical guidelines (SOPs).
• Initiate studies in ethics.
• Continuing education and training programs to ensure that IEC members are qualified to perform their specific duties.

Functions of IEC:

The IEC screens the research proposals for their completeness and depending on the risk involved categorize them into 3 types:

1. Exemption from review for proposals that involve less than minimal risk.
2. Expedited review for more than minimal risk proposals, minor protocol amendments, research on disaster management.
3. Full review for more than minimal risk and proposals that involve vulnerable subjects.

The ethical review should be done in formal meetings by all primary reviewers, and a decision is made only when quorum is complete.