The BACRS Research Ethics Committee (REC) applies an ethical review framework informed by applicable national requirements and internationally recognized research ethics guidance. This page summarises the principles in our own words and links to the official sources. It does not reproduce those documents; please read the originals.
Important: Reference to the documents below does not mean that BACRS or its REC is accredited, approved, registered or endorsed by the organisations that publish them.
1. WMA Declaration of Helsinki (2024)
Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Participants. Sets out principles such as the primacy of participants' well-being over the interests of science or society, independent ethics review, free and informed consent, protection of vulnerable groups, and the duty to register research and share results. Official source: World Medical Association – Declaration of Helsinki
2. CIOMS International Ethical Guidelines for Health-related Research Involving Humans (2016)
Explains how ethical principles apply in practice, with attention to social value, scientific validity, fair participant selection, risk-benefit, community engagement, and research in low-resource settings. Official source: CIOMS – 2016 International ethical guidelines
3. WHO Standards and Operational Guidance for Ethics Review of Health-Related Research with Human Participants (2011)
Describes how research ethics committees should be constituted, operate, review studies and monitor approved research. The same WHO publication supports our approach to committee composition, independence and conflict-of-interest management. Official source: WHO – Standards and operational guidance for ethics review
4. ICH E6(R3) Good Clinical Practice
A GCP standard for the design, conduct, recording and reporting of clinical trials. Referred to where applicable to clinical trials. Official source: ICH – Efficacy guidelines
5. UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights
Affirms respect for human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms in bioethics, including consent, privacy, equality and justice. Official source: UNESCO – Bioethics and human rights
6. National requirements in Bangladesh
The REC reviews with reference to the ethical guidance published by the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) and to applicable laws, regulations and institutional requirements of Bangladesh. Reference to BMRC guidance does not imply that BACRS or its REC is an agency, subsidiary or officially endorsed IRB of BMRC. Official source: Bangladesh Medical Research Council
How the framework is used
Investigators remain responsible for obtaining every approval required by law, sponsors and host institutions in addition to REC review. All regulatory references on this website are reviewed against the latest official requirements before publication.
BACRS Research Ethics Committee operates under the governance of the Bangladesh Academy of Clinical Research Society. Ethical review is conducted in accordance with the policies and Standard Operating Procedures adopted by the Society as they are published on this site, with reference to applicable national and international ethical guidelines. References to BMRC guidelines, international ethical guidelines or other regulatory frameworks do not by themselves constitute endorsement, accreditation, registration or authorization by those organizations. Where research is subject to additional governmental, institutional, regulatory or sponsor requirements, investigators remain responsible for obtaining all applicable approvals before commencing the research.