Paper use in research ethics applications and study conduct.

Application for Research Ethics Committee (REC) approval and the conduct of medical research is paper intensive. This retrospective study examined all applications to a single REC in the south of England over one year. It estimated the mass of paper used, comparing the proportional paper consumption of different trial types and during different stages of the research process, quantifying the consumption in terms of carbon dioxide emissions.

Integrating HIV testing into immunological studies of non-HIV-related diseases.

HIV testing is now required for non-HIV-AIDS-related immunological studies in areas of high HIV prevalence. Ethical guidelines for testing in these circumstances need clarification and sensitive protocols need to be developed.