Medical research Archives

A funny cartoon about the components of the questionable benefits package for CRAs.

Friday afternoon’s funny – Is this package supposed to be appealing?

The working reality for CRAs isn’t pretty or appealing. That they would be presented as benefits isn’t funny. Don Mayne has a good go in this humorous cartoon. Institutions have a responsibility to provide workspaces that are safe and provide for the needs of their workers. Chief Investigators have a direct personal responsibility to argue and provide for working arrangements for their CRAs that are sustainable, support safe work practices and are adequately resourced.

Molecule of DNA forming inside the test tube equipment.3d rendering,conceptual image.

(China) In wake of gene-edited baby scandal, China sets new ethics rules for human studies – Science (Dennis Normile | March 2023)

The genetic work conducted by He was truly shocking and stunned the world. The long-term effects on the girls may not be known for decades. Presumably, the girls will be the subject of multiple investigations throughout their whole lives. Superficially, this move by China with tighten up their health research guidelines so nothing like this can happen again. However, some have observed that the new guidance does not go far enough.

Three tipped tablet jars spill tablets before them.

FDA to require diversity plan for clinical trials – Nature (Max Kozlov | February 2023)

It is well known men and women can react differently to pharmacological agents. Sometimes the differences can have serious side effects, even resulting in death. So when a clinician reads a paper about the positive propertied results from the use of a trial agent it is vital they know information about the research participants. In addition to gender, this includes age, race, disability and general health. So, this move by the FDA in the United States, is to be congratulated. Regulators in other jurisdictions should consider similar moves.

Experimental rabbits in the acrylic restraint box

(US) FDA no longer needs to require animal tests before human drug trials – Science (Meredith Wadman | January 2023)

Whatever enthusiasm we feel about this news, it is important to keep it in perspective. This doesn’t mean the NIH will no longer automatically not require animal work for every pharmacological agent or therapeutic procedure. Whereas, now it is an available option for them sometimes not require it. There’s also no guarantee that this new option will be adopted by other regulatory bodies in other jurisdictions. This development means we will not see the end of animal research tomorrow. What it is, is an interesting indication from the US of the growing acceptance of non-animal testing techniques.

(US) Federal watchdog finds problems with NIH oversight of grant funding bat virus research in China – Science (Jocelyn Kaiser | January 2023)

This story and the details it alleges highlight the harm that can be done to responsible research practice when the utterances of a populist leader influence the decisions of a country’s peak research funding body. Politics must not be allowed to infect research.

A funny cartoon of what medical researchers really meant by their recruitment title.

Friday afternoon’s funny – Be wary of their true meaning

This humorous Don Mayne cartoon depicts why potential participants in medical research should always be careful that their assumptions about a research project match the design of a project. Even though it is unlikely that a planned project will be this ghastly or dangerous, this is why research ethics review bodies should be aware of how researchers will describe their project in recruitment materials. This is to watch against text that might give a false impression about a project.

Two researchers using a laptop while conducing testing.

The Role of AI in Drug Discovery: Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategies (Preprint: Alexandre Blanco-Gonzalez | December 2022)

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the drug discovery process, offering improved efficiency, accuracy, and speed. However, the

A US 100 dollar bill with Benjamin Franklin wearing a face mask.

Journal editors and publishers’ legal obligations with respect to medical research misconduct (Papers: Naomi Holbeach et. al. | December 2022)

Abstract As the burden of misconduct in medical research is increasingly recognised, questions have been raised about how best to

ACN - 101321555 | ABN - 39101321555

Australasian Human Research Ethics Consultancy Services Pty Ltd (AHRECS)

Friday afternoon’s funny – Is this package supposed to be appealing?

(China) In wake of gene-edited baby scandal, China sets new ethics rules for human studies – Science (Dennis Normile | March 2023)

FDA to require diversity plan for clinical trials – Nature (Max Kozlov | February 2023)

(US) FDA no longer needs to require animal tests before human drug trials – Science (Meredith Wadman | January 2023)

(US) Federal watchdog finds problems with NIH oversight of grant funding bat virus research in China – Science (Jocelyn Kaiser | January 2023)

The Role of AI in Drug Discovery: Challenges, Opportunities, and Strategies (Preprint: Alexandre Blanco-Gonzalez | December 2022)

Journal editors and publishers’ legal obligations with respect to medical research misconduct (Papers: Naomi Holbeach et. al. | December 2022)

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Australasian Human Research Ethics Consultancy Services Pty Ltd (AHRECS)

ACN - 101321555 | ABN - 39101321555

Australasian Human Research Ethics Consultancy Services Pty Ltd (AHRECS)