The committee works because it's such a diverse group. With 12 people representing different disciplines and backgrounds examining a research protocol, we're able to see things from a perspective other than that of the researcher. Foss echoed Piessens's recollection that problems with HSPH research are rare, despite two HIV-related research projects that received some media attention for their human subjects protocols last year. One project was criticized for not using a placebo trial, while the other was reproached for using placebos. Both had received approval by the Human Subjects Committee.
Every project is considered independently.
In the first instance, the government was willing to pay for HIV drugs that seem beneficial. In this case, it would be wrong to deny people the possible benefit of those drugs simply to provide a control group for a study. In the second instance, however, the subjects weren't denied therapy in favor of placebo, so we gave that our approval. Extensive reviews of both projects have concluded that both researchers are behaving appropriately given the conditions present in the countries where they're performing the research, so we continue to support them. The big issues will be those of confidentiality and the availability of genetic counseling.