Doing the Right Thing – Even When it Isn’t Mandated or Regulated
This article is a part of our REDI News DEI Resource Highlight series.
Accountability is a common concept in clinical and translational science. From drug accountability records (i.e., logs of drugs kept by an investigator running the clinical trial in clinical trials) to protocol integrity that investigators are responsible for (i.e., management and integrity of the design, conduct, and sorting of research project, managing, monitoring, and ensuring the integrity of collaborative relationships), but it doesn’t and shouldn’t stop there.
As an example, to promote accountability and transparency, Generic Drug User Fee Amendment II (GDUFA II) includes provisions so that industry and public stakeholders can observe the FDA’s productivity and performance with generic drug reviews under GDUFA II.
Accountability is the fact or condition of being accountable (of a person, organization, or institution) required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsibility. Let’s explore the evolution of accountability in the biomedical research industry and resulting growth opportunities.
We’ll use the goal of increasing diversity in clinical research as our example as we look at the types of accountability.
Personal Accountability
Personal accountability involves an individual taking ownership of what happens as a result of their own choices and actions. Examples of personal or self-accountability include: admitting to a mistake, sharing information about the mistake and possibilities for resolution with those affected by the mistake, and reflecting on why the mistake occurred to avoid it (or something like it) in the future.
Organizational Accountability
Organizational accountability is illustrated by an organization or company’s mission, values, vision, and goals, as well as how each individual plays a role in executing and advancing toward achievement. Examples of organizational accountability include setting and achieving SMART goals and making decisions that reflect the organization’s mission and values.
Institutional Accountability
Institutional accountability is similar to organizational accountability, but may have reach across the industry or across industries. An example of institutional accountability of federal, state, or local government regulations for the industry (e.g., Food and Drug Administration regulations–that are also federal laws–based on laws in the Tobacco Control Act and Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act).
Reflection
- How do you reinforce principles of personal accountability based on the role you play in your research team?
- Do your organization’s mission, values, vision, and goals align with your response to question number one?
- When you consider the importance of accountability inside and outside the research context, are there any models that you can borrow or build on from other industries to help promote institutional accountability?
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