Bridging the Gap in Research Oversight: A Private Sector Response to Federal Retrenchment 

Published: April 2, 2025

Overview

With ongoing federal funding cuts and layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), research institutions across the country are facing significant challenges in maintaining compliance with human research protections. The withdrawal of public oversight capacity has made it clear: the private sector must lead.

Quint Research Consulting Group (QRCG) and its technology solution, EthixCore, have emerged to bridge the gap—offering the strategy, tools, and infrastructure needed to protect participants and support institutions during this transition.

The Compliance Crisis at Hand

Recent reports confirm that HHS and its sub-agencies, including NIH, CDC, and FDA, are experiencing unprecedented workforce reductions. These agencies have historically served as a backbone for research ethics, participant protections, and compliance education. The result of their downsizing?

• Decreased access to federal oversight and guidance

• Delayed policy updates and communication gaps

• Greater burden on institutional HRPP and IRB teams

• Increased compliance risk for ongoing and new research

At stake is the integrity of research oversight—and most importantly, the safety and ethical treatment of research participants.

QRCG + EthixCore: A Unified Private Sector Solution

To meet the moment, QRCG and EthixCore provide a comprehensive ecosystem of compliance leadership and technology support:

Quint Research Consulting Group

QRCG offers:

• Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) consulting

• IRB administration process optimization

• Policy development and staff training

• Pre-audit support and internal quality review
  
  

EthixCore Compliance Platform

EthixCore delivers:

• Real-time protocol risk scoring

• Deviation alerts and compliance tracking

• Centralized documentation for IRBs and investigators

• Dashboards for leadership oversight and reporting

Together, our solutions empower institutions to operate confidently—even without the same level of federal guidance.

Protecting Participants with Integrity and Intelligence

At the core of our mission is participant protection. By combining hands-on compliance consulting with automated oversight tools, institutions can stay ahead of risk, reduce administrative burden, and maintain compliance from study submission to closeout.

How We're Leading the Charge

• People + Platform: Our dual approach blends professional expertise and intelligent automation.

• Participant-Focused: Every tool and consultation centers on ethical oversight and participant safety.

• Future-Ready: We help institutions remain audit-ready and policy-aligned in an evolving regulatory climate.
  
  

Let’s Build the New Standard—Together

If your institution is navigating resource constraints, workforce reductions, or increased compliance demands, QRCG and EthixCore are here to help.

Together, we are building a stronger, smarter future for research oversight—grounded in ethics, powered by innovation.

Contact Us

📍 www.whatsanirb.org
📧 info@whatsanirb.org |
📞 Schedule a free consultation today https://calendly.com/stephaniethomas-whatsanirb/30min