The Saint Louis University Research Ethics Committee (SLU-REC) gathered for its regular semestral Committee meeting on 29 September 2026 at the American Corner, Msgr. Charles Vath Building, SLU Main Campus. Reaffirming its commitment to upholding institutional research rigor and ethical integrity, the Committee focused on standardizing governance, reviewing performance metrics, and refining review workflows across the university.
SLU-REC Chair, Rainier Moreno-Lacalle, PhD outlined the primary objectives for the semestral session, highlighting the consolidation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), workflow standardization, post-approval monitoring, and the formal adjudication of institutional risk cases.
Key Accomplishments and Operational Milestones
During the meeting, the Committee presented major achievements from the 2025–2026 academic year, demonstrating its active role in maintaining academic and ethical standards:
• The Committee processed 458 initial research protocols and 235 post-approval submissions, including 171 final reports, 39 protocol deviations, 21 amendments, and 4 progress reports.
• Review efficiency remained within target timelines, averaging 5.2 days for Exempt protocols, 11.14 days for Expedited reviews, and 14.2 days to first decision for Full Board reviews, while keeping variation rates low.
• Overall researcher satisfaction ratings rose from 4.45 to 4.81 out of 5.0.
• The Committee mentored 159 investigators. Committee members expanded their expertise through specialized upskilling programs, including Good Clinical Practice (BRET), UP-NIH Advanced SOP Training, Animal Research Ethics, and Social Science Research Ethics.
• The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) was formally integrated under the SLU-REC umbrella in August 2026. The unit is headed by Mr. Leonard Guinguino, with facility registration processes managed by Dr. Regina Hipol.
• Successful beta testing was reported for the SLU-REC’s “Revue” Pre-approval Submission Web Application, designed to streamline administrative workflows.
Governance Reforms and Institutional Updates
To ensure high governance standards, the Committee discussed consolidating its operational guidelines from 32 procedures down to six (6) core SOP manuals. Structural updates included refining panel configurations, establishing official review-pause calendars during academic breaks, standardizing single-feedback forms for full-board reviews, and updating panel role definitions—such as clarifying the cross-disciplinary role of non-scientist members.
The Committee also reviewed progress on the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) Level 2 accreditation requirements, and announced an upcoming Biosafety Training on 9 to 10 October 2026 in collaboration with the School of Nursing, Allied Health, and Biological Sciences (SONAHBS). Additionally, a brief update was shared regarding recent insights from the Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC) training, focusing on localized informed consent processes, minor assent provisions, and data integrity safeguards.
Afternoon Workshop and Executive Election
Following the morning agenda, REC members participated in an afternoon SOP workshop to align review criteria and finalize standardized documentation forms.
The day concluded with the formal election of Mr. Jefferson Galanza as the new SLU-REC Member-Secretary. In this role, Mr. Galanza will oversee protocol review classifications, certify meeting proceedings, and direct technical quality compliance alongside the Chair and Staff Secretary.
This semestral activity is directly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. By embedding high ethical standards, continuous capacity building, and rigorous oversight into institutional research, the SLU-REC advances academic excellence, fosters transparent governance, and ensures strong, accountable institutional frameworks for scientific inquiry. (Article and photos by Lovely Hope Donio/REC, RISE Center)
