Chapter 05: IRBs and a Few Words about the Growth of Multi-disciplinary Care

Dr. Buzdar begins this chapter with an explanation of why ethical review boards (the first IRBs) were established after the Second World War. MD Anderson was in the forefront of the movement, and established the first ethics committee in 1966. Dr. Buzdar served on the IRB for a decade. Dr. Buzdar then talks about the power of the IRB, which operates as an independent and final authority in determining whether a protocol can proceed. He gives an example of immunotherapy trials using CAR T cells [chimeric antigen receptor T cells], a treatment that has very serious side effects, leading in some cases to death. Dr. Buzdar describes the unique (in the nation) initiative that MD Anderson has undertaken to monitor and treat these patients for side effects. He notes the value of immunotherapy for patients who are resistant to every other known treatment. Dr. Buzdar also explains that the immunotherapy protocols represent efforts in multidisciplinary care and research. This, he says, is MD Anderson\u27s unique system. He describes how multidisciplinary care works and how it gives rise to research. This has also necessitated a move away from the traditional axiom, do no harm, he states.https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/1563/thumbnail.jp