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Table 3 Review time for EVD-related new submissions

From: Ethics review of studies during public health emergencies - the experience of the WHO ethics review committee during the Ebola virus disease epidemic

Review type

Daysa from complete submission to ERC initial decision

Mean, Median (range)

Daysa from initial ERC decision to response from WHO RO

Mean, Median (range)

Daysa from response by WHO RO to final ERC approval

Mean, Median (range)

Total Daysa from complete submission to final ERC approval

Mean, Median (range)

Full-Committee review

6.8, 6 (3–12)

6.8, 7 (0–14)

6.5, 4 (1–18)

18.8, 18 (4–32)

Expedited reviewb

5.4, 4 (0–15)

7.2, 6.5 (2–13)

4.3, 4 (1–9)

14, 17 (0–26)

All types of review

5.8, 5 (0–15)

6.9, 7 (0–14)

5.7, 4 (1–18)

15, 16.5 (0–32)

  1. This table covers only protocols which required ERC review according to WHO-ERC Rules of Procedure (ROP), i.e. protocols of studies for which WHO provides technical support or funding. It does not include protocols reviewed by the ERC at the request of third parties. Only working days are counted, weekends and WHO official holidays are excluded.
  2. Abbreviations: WHO RO, WHO Responsible Officer. As per WHO-ERC ROP, all submissions to WHO-ERC are done by the WHO staff responsible for the study and WHO-ERC feedback is provided to the WHO RO.
  3. aWorking days
  4. bAs per WHO-ERC ROP, a protocol is eligible for ‘Expedited Review’ (i.e. review by two WHO-ERC members, but not by the whole committee) if: (i) it will expose research participants to no more than minimal risk i.e. the level of risk to which it will expose participants is no greater than that encountered by people involved in their normal daily activities, such as working at home, in an office, or on a farm, attending school, or undergoing a routine health examination, (ii) minor changes are planned in research that has been previously approved by the ERC and where proposed changes do not create more than minimal risks; (iii) an additional research centre is added to a project previously approved on a multi-centre basis, such that ERC review is limited to ensuring that the necessary local review and approval has taken place.