• Overview
• Contacts
• Consultants by Institution

Welcome to the Research Ethics Consultation Service of the Harvard Catalyst Ethics Program in Clinical and Translational Research (EPiCTR). The mission of the Consultation Service is to assist clinical and translational investigators, along with institutional representatives responsible for overseeing clinical and translational research, to clarify and address the ethical challenges that frequently arise when designing or conducting research. The Consultation Unit includes faculty from across the Harvard medical institutions with expertise in clinical and translational research ethics.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What kind of consultations are available?

• Consultation related to ethical challenges or uncertainties in the design or conduct of clinical or translational research. Examples might include:
  • the appropriateness of a placebo-controlled design
  • the use of invasive research-specific procedures
  • the return of individual research results or incidental findings to study participants
  • the inclusion or exclusion of vulnerable populations
  • the ethical appropriateness of conducting a first-in-human trial of a novel intervention
• Consultation regarding the social or policy implications of novel methodologies or of specific clinical and translational research projects.

2. Who is eligible to receive consultation services?

• Principal investigators, co-investigators, or study team members conducting clinical or translational research at a Harvard Catalyst-affiliated institution.
• IRBs, scientific review bodies, or institutional officials within the Harvard Catalyst community who are responsible for the oversight of clinical and translational research.
• Hospital Ethics Committees at Harvard Catalyst-affiliated institutions that desire assistance with consults related to research ethics.

3. What kind of consultation is not available? 

• Consultations regarding questions of law, regulation, or institutional policy.
• Consultations involving specific patients or research subjects, except when the consult is requested by a hospital ethics consult service or committee.
• Consultations related to issues of animal use and care.

4. What costs are associated with consultation?

Consultations are free of charge to Harvard affiliated investigators.

5. How do I request a consultation?

To initiate a consultation, complete and submit the Research Ethics Consultation Request Webform. After your request is submitted, it will be reviewed by the consultation service and you will be contacted by a consultant within one business day.