It is necessary for all research proposals on biomedical, social and behavioural science research for health involving human participants, their biological material and data to be reviewed and approved by an appropriately constituted EC to safeguard the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of all research participants. ECs are entrusted with the initial review of research proposals prior to their initiation, and also have a continuing responsibility to regularly monitor the approved research to ensure ethical compliance during the conduct of research.

It is the responsibility of the EC to ensure that the research projects carried out at Centre for Chronic Disease Control:

• Are sound in design, have statistical validity and are conducted in accordance with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and International Conference on Harmonisation-Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) guidelines.
• Do not compromise to the four basic ethical principles namely; respect for persons (autonomy), beneficence, non-maleficence and justice have been enunciated for protecting the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of research participants.
• Are conducted under the supervision of medical persons with the required expertise.
• Include solely, the participants who have given voluntary informed consent.
• While conducting biomedical and health research, the four basic ethical principles namely: respect for persons (autonomy), beneficence, non-maleficence and justice have been enunciated for protecting the dignity, rights, safety and well-being of research participants.