February 5, 2021

Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research* will host Driving Responsible Conduct of Research During a Pandemic, a virtual conference highlighting the challenges and lessons learned in conducting high quality, ethical clinical and translational research during a pandemic.

The conference is funded by a grant from the Office of Research Integrity, Department of Health and Human Services. To learn more and to register for the conference, visit here.

The program will focus on the knowledge gained during the past year, but also compare the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) challenges to other recent health crises, such as Zika and Ebola. The conference is in partnership with Weill Cornell Medical College, Hackensack Meridian Health, The Greater New York Hospital Association, and Ropes & Gray, LLP.

“In light of the past year, we view COVID-19 as a learning opportunity for the research community that allows us to identify the risks unique to research integrity during any health emergency,” said Bettie M. Steinberg, PhD, conference co-chair and research integrity officer of the Feinstein Institutes. “Through this conference, we will establish clear guidelines that can be used to prevent or manage any future pandemics.”

Feinstein Institutes notes the conference will be held in three-hour intervals virtually from April 12-16. There will be an opening meeting, panel discussions and four workshops that will be tasked with developing best practices for the responsible conduct of research about specific topics. These include getting informed consent when patients are very ill and family are not physically present, conflicts between treating physicians and researchers and confirming the quality of data.

Confirmed speakers include Michael Lauer, MD, deputy director for Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH); Arturo Casadevall, MD, PhD, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University; Steven Shafer, MD, chair, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University and member, Board of Directors, The Center for Scientific Integrity (CSI); and Mark Barnes, JD, partner, Ropes & Gray.

“The COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges to conducting research,” said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes. “This conference led by Dr. Steinberg, her team and national collaborators will provide us with valuable tools to face the next pandemic or health emergency.”

The conference will bring together medical professionals – including researchers, regulatory officers, Institutional Review (IRB) directors and members, institutional officials, trainees, clinicians, study coordinators, research pharmacists, research nurses, residents and fellows – and interested members of the public to discuss the challenges of conducting high quality ethical human subjects research during a health care emergency. Attendees will be able to receive CME/CEU credit for their participation in the conference.

*The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research is the research arm of Northwell Health, the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State. Home to 50 research labs, 2,500 clinical research studies and 5,000 researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institutes raises the standard of medical innovation through its five institutes of behavioral science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health innovations and outcomes, and molecular medicine. We make breakthroughs in genetics, oncology, brain research, mental health, autoimmunity, and are the global scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine – a new field of science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine.