Research Ethics Consults (RECs) are discreet, informal and advisory—never dictatorial—sessions during which any clinical, scientific, or other researcher here at the U can get team-based (or one-on-one, if preferred) moral aid in perplexing research situations.

When requested, REC teams are hand-selected to provide the needed ethical, institutional, legal and / or scientific expertise. Medical doctors and clinicians are often used to having a team of advisors, experts, and counselors to assist on difficult cases. Here at the U, everyone conducting research has support like that available to them.

All RECs performed at the University of Utah are guided by a commitment to three core principles.

Your research practice or scholarly activity might raise questions about authorship, collaboration, data management, enrollment, professional climate or conduct, publicity, privacy, return of results, and more.

You might have questions about informed consent, research and industry relationships, assessment of risks and benefits, or other aspects of study design—such as subject recruitment, selection, and participation. 

Regardless of the issue, RECs are available as a resource for you.

Contact recs@utah.edu to inquire about a consult

The REC Service is Sponsored by

Clinical Research Ethics Consultation Collaborative (CRECC)

A national network that discusses challenging cases and shares consultation practice approaches to promote ethical clinical research.

visit CRECC Website

RECs are practiced nation-wide:

• By a consortium of trained professionals
• According to shared ethical standards
• In a tradition continuous with that of clinical ethics consults