INSTITUTIONAL ETHICS COMMITTEE (IEC-GYNMC)

Introduction

The Institutional Ethics Committee of Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College (IEC-GYNMC) has been constituted by the Principal, Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College, Chennai, to facilitate and oversee research involving human participants in accordance with the ethical principles and guidelines prescribed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The Committee functions in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which define its roles, responsibilities, operational procedures, and administrative framework to ensure ethical conduct in biomedical and health research involving human participants.

Objective

The objective of the Institutional Ethics Committee is to establish an effective, transparent, and consistent ethical review mechanism for biomedical, health, and related research involving human participants. The Committee reviews all research proposals submitted by faculty members, research scholars, and students of Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College in accordance with the National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants issued by the ICMR (2017).

Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee

The IEC-GYNMC is responsible for reviewing and approving all research proposals involving human participants, with the primary objective of safeguarding their dignity, rights, privacy, safety, and well-being.
The Committee ensures that the fundamental principles of research ethics—Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, and Justice—are adequately addressed during the planning, conduct, and reporting of research studies.
The Committee undertakes ethical review of research proposals prior to the commencement of the study and continues to monitor the research throughout its duration and after completion through well-documented procedures, including periodic progress reports, annual reports, final reports, and site visits, wherever applicable.
In addition, the IEC-GYNMC examines compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, ethical guidelines, and relevant laws governing biomedical and health research.
The mandate of the IEC-GYNMC extends to the review of all research projects involving human participants, human biological materials, and human biological data conducted within the institution, irrespective of the source of funding.

Constitution and Composition of the Institutional Ethics Committee

The Principal, Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College & Hospital, Chennai, appoints the Chairperson and members of the Institutional Ethics Committee based on their competence, experience, integrity, and commitment to ethical standards. Appointments are made through an official communication, and members provide their formal acceptance to serve on the Committee.

The Chairperson of the IEC shall be an external member, independent of Government Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College & Hospital, Chennai.

The Committee comprises the following members:

• Chairperson (from outside GYNMC & Hospital, Chennai)
• One or two experts from the Basic Medical Sciences
• One or two clinicians representing various specialties/departments
• One legal expert or retired judge
• One social scientist or representative of a non-governmental voluntary organization
• One philosopher, ethicist, or theologian
• One lay person representing the community
• Member Secretary (from within GYNMC & Hospital, Chennai)

Tenure and Functioning of the Committee

The Institutional Ethics Committee is initially constituted for a period of three years. Based on institutional requirements and performance, the tenure may be extended, or the Committee may be reconstituted after completion of the term.

The Committee reviews research protocols prior to the initiation of any study, and research activities may commence only after obtaining ethical clearance from the IEC. The approval certificate issued by the Committee is utilized for registration of clinical studies and trials with the Clinical Trials Registry–India (CTRI), wherever applicable. The IEC-GYNMC also monitors ongoing approved projects to ensure continued adherence to ethical principles, regulatory requirements, and approved study protocols throughout the duration of the research.

Institutional Ethics Committee’s Of GYNMC