To expedite clinical research and promote drug development, Shanghai Ethics Committee for Clinical Research (SECCR) was officially approved by Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health as a regional ethical review board in December 2017, to meet the increasing needs of ethical review from multi-center clinical research institutions, pharmaceutical companies and other non-medical research organizations. Affiliated to Shanghai Clinical Research Center, SECCR was jointly built by Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and the People's Government of Xuhui District. In compliance with the "Ethical review of biomedical research involving human subjects" by National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China and "Good Clinical Practice, GCP" and “ Operational Guidelines for Clinical Research Ethical Review” issued by The State Drug Administration (SDA) , “Helsinki Declaration”, “ICH-GCP”, "Operational Guidelines for Ethics Committees for Review Biomedical Research" proposed by World Health Organization (WHO), “International Ethical Principal for Health related researches involving Human Subjects” issued by CIOMS, "Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights" by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), it is operated according to a written Standard Operating Procedure, with full respect to science and human rights. SECCR is responsible for the review of clinical research conducted in Shanghai or other cities in China. The SECCR abides by the constitution and the law that pertain to research conduct..

SECCR is an independent body constituted of the committee members, independent consultants and the Secretariat. The members and consultants are experts in ethics, medical research, medical practice, law and lay representatives, and is chaired by Dr. Ching-Li Hu, tenured professor of pediatrics, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Member of the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee, former Assistant Director-General of WHO, and Member of the Ethics Committee, National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China. The vice chairpersons of SECCR are Wei Zhu, associate professor of Fudan University, and Pei Chen, Director of Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. They will lead, organize and participate in the preparation and operation of SECCR.