KHRC's Institutional Ethics Committee Holds Workshop on Protecting Human Participants in Research
October 10, 2024 | News Feed | Reading time: 4 min
The Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) has conducted a two-day training workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity of its Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) to ensure the ethical conduct of research involving human participants. The workshop, held on October 8-9, 2024, at Yakam Hotel in Kintampo, focused on equipping IEC members with essential knowledge and tools needed to review and evaluate research protocols.
The workshop, which was facilitated by Rev. Fr. Prof. John Appiah-Poku and Prof. Samuel Newton, covered key areas in research ethics, including the historical context of ethical research, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) application process, protocol review steps, and informed consent procedures. The other areas were research involving vulnerable populations and the ethical complexities that arise in such instances.
In his presentation, Rev. Fr. Prof. Appiah-Poku emphasized the importance of obtaining informed consent from research participants. He explained that informed consent ensures individuals can make knowledgeable decisions about their involvement in research, with full understanding of the implications. He also highlighted the various factors that classify participants as vulnerable, including cognitive, communicative, institutional, medical, economic, and social vulnerabilities.
Prof. Sam Newton reinforced the ethical principles that must be met for research to be considered ethical. He underscored the role of the IEC in ensuring that all research protocols meet such principles, emphasizing that the specific vulnerabilities of participants must be addressed within the context of each research protocol.
The Deputy Director of Ethics and Research Management at the Research and Development Division (RDD) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Naa-Korkor Allotey participated in the workshop and shared valuable insights with the Committee.
Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante, Director of KHRC, in his opening remarks, emphasized the need to properly identify and protect vulnerable populations in research and clinical trials. He commended the IEC for their crucial contributions to the Centre’s work and stressed the importance of adhering to the ethical conduct of research to ensure the integrity of study findings. He further expressed appreciation to the facilitators for the knowledge they have instilled in the Centre’s IEC members.
Participants of the training included Nana Franklin Fei, Mrs. Charlotte Tawiah Agyemang, Ms. Cecilia Addai, Ms. Janet Saah, Dr. Samuel Bimpong, Anthony Agamba, Dr. Israel Patkuan Gamba, Mr. Agyei Fokuo, Mr. Lawrence Gyabaa Febir, Dr. Samuel B. E. Harrison, Ms. Ophelia Opoku, Mr. Fred Kanyoke, Dr. Kenneth A. Ae-Ngibise, Ms. Grace Manu, and Mr. Zakariah Buwah.
The Kintampo Health Research Centre’s (KHRC) Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), established in 2004, is an independent body that ensures ethical standards in research conducted in the region and beyond. The IEC reviews research protocols to protect participants' rights, dignity, and safety across studies, including clinical trials and social science research. It follows international ethical guidelines, such as the Declaration of Helsinki and the Belmont Report, upholding principles of respect, beneficence, and justice.
