title: A canadian perspective on ethics review and neuroimaging: tensions and solutions.
abstract: Neuroimaging research has raised ethical concerns such as the management of unexpected findings and the classification and assessment of risks. Research ethics boards (REBs) bear responsibility for the oversight of these challenges but neuroimagers struggle with the practical aspects of ethics review and report that administrative load and inconsistency contribute to eroding confidence and trust in ethics review. Our goal was to discuss and propose strategies for institutional and educational change to improve ethics review. We used an iterative and deliberative workshop-based writing process involving multiple disciplines. We propose recommendations in three tension areas: (1) communication between researchers and REBs; (2) collaboration and sharing of expertise between REBs; and (3) practical considerations and the needs of neuroimagers engaged in the ethics review process. Our recommendations are intended as openings rather than endpoints. Researchers and research ethics governance communities should decide on the future uptake of these recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Neuroethics Research Unit, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal Biomedical Ethics Unit, McGill University Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery, McGill University Departments of Medicine and Social and Preventive Medicine, Bioethics Programs, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Racine
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Northoff
authors.forename: Ravi S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kimmelman
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Illes
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000941:ethics* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D017712:Peer Review, Research / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards