The importance of the training of Ethics Committee members.

Research Ethics Committees (RECs) carry out the important task of humanizing clinical trials. While current Italian and international legislation dedicates considerable attention to REC composition, with consensus on several vital guidelines, no such univocal guidelines are available for REC training in Europe. In Italy, the activity of RECs is subject to moral, civil and criminal responsibility, but the issue of their preparation has been addressed only marginally. This article deals with the Italian situation, thus aims at exploring the question of REC training and trying to identify solutions. Committee members need both initial and continuing education and training in research ethics, methodology and governance.