The Eastern Visayas Medical Center Institutional Ethics Review Committee is an independent body created by the EVMC under the Medical Center Chief, whose responsibility is to ensure the protection of the rights, safety and well-being of human subjects involved in health- related research and to provide public assurance of that protection. The EVMC IERC has the authority to approve, require modifications to, or disapprove research protocols and related documents as well as to ensure compliance with its relevant procedures after approval, in accordance with applicable national and international regulations.

The EVMC-IERC shall review and monitor health researches that involve:
• EVMC patients, those done within the EVMC, or those using EVMC facilities, including those initiated by EVMC active consultants, residents/fellow in training and other hospital staff.
• Phase 4 clinical trials of pharmaceutical companies involving EVMC patients.
• Participate in SJREB deliberation of proposals conducted in EVMC and with EVMC IERC as the oversight.

The Eastern Visayas Medical Center Institutional Ethics Review Committee (EVMC IERC) shall review all health-related research protocols involving human participants and shall be responsible for ‘’acting in the full interest of potential research participants and affected communities taking into account the interest, needs of the researches and having due regard for the requirements of relevant regulatory agencies and applicable laws”.

1. Provides independent, competent and timely review of the ethics of research proposals in accordance with the provisions of international and national guidelines in the conduct of biomedical research.
2. Evaluates the conduct of research in EVMC in accordance with international and national guidelines, local laws, standards of professional conduct and practice, community morals, values and needs.
3. Promotes research integrity by identifying and resolving conflicts of interests.
4. Establishes appropriate mechanisms in all stages of the researches in order to:
   • Ensure the safety, protect the rights, and promote the welfare and well-being of research participants.
   • Provide counsel to research participants, including proponents and researchers.
   • Should ensure prompt reporting of changes in the protocol and anticipated problems.
   • Should ensure the proper documentation and adherence to the privacy and confidentiality rule and policy on informed consent.
   • Monitor the progress of the ongoing research.
5. Reports to the institutional or national authorities any matter that affects the conduct and ethics of research which in each view may affect the rights and safety of research participants.

FORMS FOR INITIAL REVIEW PROCESS

• Form 6.1 Protocol Package Checklist
• Form 6.2 Application Form for Protocol Review
• Form 6.3 Protocol Summary Form
• Form 6.4 Non-Disclosure Agreement
• Form 14.1 Review of Resubmitted Study Protocol Form (For protocols with modifications)