The Office of Thailand Joint Research Ethics Committees

   Clinical researches were previously considered in terms of research ethics by individual institute and agency in order to protect volunteers' rights. The process for multi-center clinical researches has been slow, repetitive and inconvenient because researches would have to be submitted to various institutes and agencies for consideration.

   Therefore, 13 institutes and agencies having clinical researches have discussed together and finally signed the memorandum of understanding to establish the Office of Thailand Joint Research Ethics Committees. This office becomes a focal point to consider multi-center clinical researches in order also to protect volunteers' rights at the same standard. It will start as soon as possible with efficiency, cost-effectiveness, international recognition of strengthened capacity and process of clinical research.

Advantages of the Office of Thailand Joint Research Ethics Committees

1. Decrease of Steps and Resource Loss Multi-center researches were previously submitted for consideration by the ethics committees of individual institute. Each institute has different process, procedure and standard that needs more resources with more time consuming. The joint research ethics committees will be able to strengthen efficiently and economically approved process that draws increasing research fund to the country.

2. International Recognition of Developed Screening Process Quality The Joint Research Ethics Committees consisting of ethics committees from other institutes have been selected and nominated to be the neutral committees. These selected persons will be strengthened in order to jointly consider research projects to be in line with the international standard. These committees are able to draw more normal and multi-center researches.

3. Motivation for Sponsors As submission of researches through the Joint Research Ethics Committees consume less time and cost, sponsors are able to compete with other countries.

4. Opportunities for Thai Researchers The Office of Joint Research Ethics Committees focus more on multi-center clinical researches. Therefore, JREC members are able to draw more foreign researches. It will be more beneficial for Thai researchers to strengthen the standard procedure to be internationally recognized and be able to jointly participate in various researches.

5. Opportunities for Patients The Office of Joint Research Ethics Committees has more potential to draw international researches i.e. new drugs. Patients participating in the project are entitled to participate in new research projects and have more choices for treatment and privilege for consumption of potential new drugs.