NBAC to ask for new ethics office

Responding to concerns that the U.S. government is not doing enough to ensure that participants in clinical trials are protected, the National Bioethics Advisory Committee (NBAC) will recommend the creation of a new, independent government body with authority over ethical aspects of clinical research. According to a draft report on Ethical and Policy Issues in the Oversight of Human Research discussed by the committee on Thursday, NBAC envisions a body that is not located within any of the government agencies or departments that conduct or fund research. The new office would have broad authority to develop, interpret and enforce ethics rules, and review and monitor planned and ongoing research. Its authority would include research conducted and supported by government as well as the private sector. ...