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Deadline: May 18, 2016
The overarching goal of this FIC R25 program is to support educational activities that strengthen research ethics capacity in LMICs through increasing the number of LMIC research intensive institutions that can provide advanced education in research ethics. Programs supported by this initiative will equip scientists, health professionals and academics in these countries with in-depth knowledge of the ethical principles, processes and policies related to international clinical and public health research. Programs should be designed to strengthen the critical competencies needed to provide research ethics education, ethical review leadership and expert consultation to researchers, their institutions, governments and international research organizations. To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this FOA will support LMIC, U.S. and other high income country (HIC) bioethics experts to collaborate in the development of innovative, comprehensive masters level socio-culturally relevant ethics education programs at research intensive institutions in LMICs which must include all of the following components:
· Curriculum Development for a series of master’s level didactic fundamental, ethics courses covering the ethical principles and theories relevant to research ethics; socio-culturally relevant research ethics case studies; the concepts of informed consent, risk and benefits, vulnerability, and privacy and confidentiality; international ethical issues in research; and responsible conduct of research.
· Courses for Skills Development for participants to develop the necessary competencies to provide leadership in bioethics teaching, ethical review of research, research ethics consultation, scholarship and empirical research, in areas such as mediation, negotiation and communication; pedagogy; research design and statistics; case study, manuscript and grant writing; ethics literature, regulation and policy analysis, and English as a second language, if needed. These must include opportunities for practicum experiences such as participation in ethical review committees, development of research ethics education/training courses for researchers and ethical review committee members, analysis of ethical review guidelines or processes, and research on ethical practices in biomedical or behavioral research in the participants’ countries.
· Mentoring Activities to support participants to develop and sustain research ethics activities at their home institutions. Innovative approaches for continuing research ethics education and networking for graduates of the program that will enhance their development as research ethics leaders are encouraged.
It is anticipated that collaborating bioethics experts in LMICs, the U.S. and other high income countries (HICs) will begin to implement components of the master's level research ethics training at the LMIC institution within one year after award, with plans to implement the complete curriculum, skills courses, practicum experiences and mentoring activities proposed by the end of the five year grant period. Faculty and mentors from the U.S. or other or other HICs should have international bioethics research experience. Faculty and mentors from LMICs with research ethics expertise should play significant roles in proposed programs to insure the relevance of the curriculum and LMIC institutional sustainability. It is expected that subsequent renewal applications will be submitted by the collaborating LMIC institutions, with continued U.S. or other HIC involvement, as needed.
More details available at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-16-081.html