Funding and Function During Crises: A Global Survey of Research Ethics Committees During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Research ethics committees (RECs) help uphold ethical research, but little is known about how their funding affects their capacity, especially in crises. Via survey data from 324 REC representatives in 80 countries, we examine funding sources, perceived compensation adequacy, and operational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. About one-fifth reported having no funding for operations or compensation, and only around one-third viewed their compensation as adequate. Funding constraints were more pronounced in low- and middle-income countries and may be associated with greater reported challenges. Our findings suggest that REC resilience during crises depends on stable support, especially from policymakers and institutional leaders.