Getting tangled in red tape: the challenges of doing clinical research in New Zealand

Regulations and the number of forms that require completion remain a major frustration for researchers attempting to establish a clinical research project. It is essential that clinical research is of the highest standard and abides by ethical principles. However, the duplication of information required and lack of co-ordination between national and local ethics and research committees is a hindrance to conducting clinical research. This publication highlights the pitfalls in our current system with a case study, and suggests changes to the ethical review process that may aid researchers in establishing clinical research.