Ethics of Research in Latin American Countries. Advanced Program

Project Information in NIH RePORTER

Ethics of Research in Latin American Countries. Advanced Program

Principal Institution

University of Chile

Principal Investigator(s) (PI)

Lolas, Fernando S

Project Contact Information

University of Chile, CIEB
Diagonal Paraguay 265
Santiago, Chile 8330015
Email: flolas@u.uchile.cl
Eduardo Rodriguez, PhD
Email: rodrigue@chi.ops-oms.org
Telephone: 56-2-236 0330
Fax: 56-2-346 7219

Project Website

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Centro Interdisciplinario de Estudios en Bioetica

Year(s) Awarded

2002-2012

Project Description

As a Collaborating Center in Bioethics of the World Health Organization and in close association with the Bioethics Program of the Pan American Health Organization, the Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics (CIEB) of the University of Chile offers a wide spectrum of opportunities for applying skills and concepts in the countries of the Americas and the Caribbean. This hands-on experience is unique in the sense that trainees are exposed to a wide variety of research environments and come into contact with the reality of the countries of this world region. Carefully selected on the basis of previous accomplishments, academic record, and institutional support, up to six trainees each year are exposed to both virtual and face to face learning and training experiences, including a three-month period at the CIEB in Santiago, Chile, and optional stays at other locations. The program implements research ethics training and develops a master level curriculum for Latin American researchers and policymakers in order to improve their competencies for international collaboration and comprises cultural sensitivity training, responsible conduct of research in the psychosocial and biomedical fields, and actual experience at research ethics committees, governmental advisory bodies, and academic institutions. Applicants with different backgrounds are welcomed, and previous trainees have come from the biomedical, the social sciences and the legal professions. It is divided into 4 sections The first section, lasting one month, will consist in preparing the trainees by reading materials and listening to audiovisuals on ethics of research in prepared modules via online. The second section will consist in three months of course work and other activities in Santiago of Chile, with an international faculty. The third section will consist of eight months in the country of origin performing studies of ethical practice in clinical and public research and helping developing home institutions in ethics of research; a tutor from CIEB will be appointed to each trainee to follow up through the research process. Home institutions will be developed along four possible tracks:

1. Curricula development of ethics of research programs
2. Development of ethical review committees
3. Development of ethics of research web programs or sites
4. Participation in ethical review guidelines or processes, regulations or public health policies

Trainees will have one monthly supervision session with the tutor, their progress will be monitored through written assignments and consultations with local and international faculties; institutional support will be requested in the selection of candidates; performance will be assessed at home institution by an assigned academic; this section will end with a thesis writing and defense in front of a committee and an evaluation of the intervention in home institutions by the committee in a seminar workshop; plans for publishing the thesis results at scientific journals will be implemented in this seminar as well. After completing the training period (12 months) a certification will be obtained. Trainees will be integrated into a network of researchers and scholars actively involved in actual research, policymaking, ethical oversight of research and curriculum development at academic institutions. Plans to publish the experience acquired in web nets and/or scientific publications will be implemented.