Workshop on the ethics of research in developing countries

[Guest guest]

Cape Town, South Africa 12-14 February 2004

COMPETITION FOR PARTICIPATION

Closing date for applications: 1 September 2003

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics published a Report, the ethics of research

related to healthcare in developing countries, in April 2002. The Report

recommends that medical research in developing countries which is funded by

organisations in wealthier countries is crucial but must be subject to rigorous

ethical safeguards. The Report provides an ethical framework for anyone who is

designing or conducting externally-sponsored research in the developing world.

A follow-up Workshop will be held in February 2004 to explore developments in

this area since the publication of the Report. The Workshop, co-hosted by the

South African MRC and the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, will bring together

researchers who are actively involved in externally-sponsored research related

to healthcare in developing countries, for three days in Cape Town. The focus

of the Workshop will be to discuss and debate ethical and regulatory issues

raised by new and recently revised guidelines and to identify obstacles to the

effective implementation.

Applications are invited from those involved in externally-sponsored research

related to healthcare in developing countries. Suitable delegates would include

field workers, senior investigators, physicians, regulators, members of ethics

review committees, sponsors of research and representatives from training

institutions. Preference will be given to participants from developing

countries.

The Workshop is limited to approximately 50 participants, including speakers, to

enable focused and active discussion of the issues. Successful applicants may

additionally be invited to give a presentation, to act as discussant or to chair

a Session.

Programme

The Workshop will focus on four main areas: standards of care, consent, what

happens when research is over, and research priorities. These will be

considered using case studies from three areas of research: acute disease,

chronic disease and preventive treatments. The impact of recent developments

and revisions to guidelines will be considered from the perspective of three

main user groups - researchers, reviewers and sponsors of research. The

programme will include plenary sessions and breakout groups to encourage further

discussion. All sessions will be conducted in English.

For more information, see the draft programme at

www.nuffieldbioethics/developingcountries

Applications

Please apply in writing including:

a.. An account explaining why you would like to take part in the Workshop, how

you think you would benefit, and how you might be able to contribute. We would

be particularly interested to hear of difficult ethical issues which you have

encountered in respect to externally-sponsored research related to healthcare

and how they were addressed. (not more than 500 words)

b.. CV (1 page)

c.. A description of your current research project (150 words)

d.. A list of recent scientific publications, especially those relating to

clinical or field trials

e.. Name and contact details of one referee

The deadline for applications is 1 September, 2003

Awards

Successful applicants will receive an award to cover:

return travel to the meeting (standard airfare)

accommodation (3 nights)

full board

copy of any publication resulting from the meeting

registration for the meeting.

Participants will be expected to meet all other costs.

All applications will be considered by the Steering Committee. Decisions will

be made on the basis of the applicants experience in the use of guidelines in

the context of practical research, ethical review or sponsoring research. The

Steering Committee will also consider areas of expertise, and will seek to

provide a balanced representation of countries at different levels of

development. Not all participants will necessarily be selected from applicants

to this call for participation.

The Steering Committee's decision will be final. Successful applicants will be

informed in September 2003.

Please send your application to:

Nuffield Council on Bioethics

28 Bedford Square

London WC1B 3JS

bioethics@...

Fax: +44 (0)20 7637 1712

Further details, including membership of the Steering Committee, can be found on

the Nuffield Council website:

www.nuffieldbioethics/developingcountries

APOLOGIES FOR CROSS POSTING

Please pass this message to colleagues who may be interested.

Nicola Perrin

Public Liaison Officer

Nuffield Council on Bioethics

28 Bedford Square

London WC1B 3JS

Tel: 020 7681 9627

Fax: 020 7637 1712

nperrin@...

www.nuffieldbioethics.org