Question $2$

Recall the VanTx case discussed in Module $1.$ The ethics review of trials to be conducted by VanTx, the contract research organization $($CRO$),$ was carried out by a private research ethics committee. Besides, the chief executive officer $($CEO$)$ of the private REC was also the CEO of the organization conducting the trials.

Please choose the answer which defines all conflicts of interests in this case.

The fact that a single person holds interests in both the organization conducting the trial $($the CRO$)$ and in the body ensuring its ethical oversight $($the REC$)$ jeopardizes that person's ability to provide a free and independent evaluation of the research focused on the protection of the research participants. The competing financial interest constitutes a conflict of interest.

CROs are in the business of conducting trials and as such will employ physicians who can act as qualified investigators for the trials. The fact that the CEO of both the REC and of the CRO was the same person signified that the REC was not independent of the investigator.

There is more than one conflict of interests in this case. The profit$-$driven nature of a private REC conflicts with its responsibilities to the CRO and to the research participants. In addition, the CEO has the same two conflicts since CEOs of the private REC and the CRO are the same person.