Linda Mayo, director of Office of the Institutional Review Board at the University of New Mexico, was honored for her service with the Applied Research Ethics National Association (ARENA) Legacy Award from Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research. The ARENA Legacy Award is given to those members who contribute to a more ethical research landscape while working tirelessly in leadership, mentorship, and education.
Research involving human subjects requires unique ethical and moral oversight that other kinds of research may not because of the need to protect the integrity, safety, and well-being of the subjects, the researcher, and the research itself. Among her duties, Mayo promotes the safety and protection of those involved in human research by providing support, guidance, and education to research faculty and students to facilitate sound and ethical research.
Mayo stated that “receiving the 2020 ARENA Legacy Award is completely unexpected and quite emotional for me — to be acknowledged for playing an important role in mentoring young professionals and contributing to the growth of my profession is very satisfying and rewarding.”
Mayo has been on the staff at the University of New Mexico since 2003.