Health: FG to train research, ethics c’ttee staff

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

The federal government has concluded plans to provide training, mentoring for administrative and technical staff of Research Ethics Committees in the country.
Under this initiative, research ethics review will now undergo clinical trials in the Federal Ministry of Health and strengthened to meet contemporary challenges.
A consortium comprising National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Center for Bioethics and Research (CBR), Council of Health Research Ethics Development (COHRED) and National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria (NHREC) are to collaborate in deepening research ethics in Nigeria.
Chairman of the National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria, Professor Zubeiru Iliyasu, said deepening Research Ethics in Nigeria (DREIN), said project is supported by European Union and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).
He said this while exchanging views with journalists in Benin City, Edo State Capital.
The Director of Center for Bioethics and Research (CBR), Ibadan, Professor Clement Adebamowo, said the DREIN project is aimed at improving the capacity of Research Ethics Committee in Nigeria in order to implement standardized and efficient review of research and clinical trials protocols through increasing utilization of electronic ethics review platform.
The Manager of Center for Bioethics and Research, Mr. Olusegun Adeyemo said the rationale behind the project was ethical review of research and clinical trials and oversight.