Strengthening Capacity in Health Research Ethics and Methodology in The Gambia

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PROJECT SUMMARY The transformational changes in The Gambia have stimulated growth in several sectors with opportunities to implement research. The resulting increase in the conduct of research in the academic, research, and health care institutions has gained momentum. As such, the need for ethics review committees requires efforts to enhance research ethics and research methods capacity as there have been a limited number of available training programs in health research ethics and research methodologies. Building capacity is critical to strengthening the overall research enterprise. Our Goal is to further strengthen leadership capacity and expertise in research ethics and research methodologies. Through the University of Maryland, Baltimore President’s Global Impact Fund (PGIF), the 2020 fall workshop attracted an impressive 52 attendees. Of those that completed the pre and post workshop surveys, 52% (n = 27) were health professionals, and importantly, 100% responded “yes” to the question if “health research ethics training is important in the Gambia.” To ensure program success, we are collaborating with Nigerian colleagues to form a dyad pairing Gambian faculty with Nigerian ethics experts in an apprentice model; and with colleagues in Ghana to train Gambian collaborators in the Fogarty-funded MSc program. Coalescing these potential collaborators in the West African region will ensure that Gambian faculty continue to develop skills and competence as core faculty in the proposed certificate and future master’s programs. The Objective of the grant application is to extend our efforts of the PGIF Program to develop a Research Ethics and Methods Certificate Program in Gambia as a foundation for subsequent expansion to a Master’s Program in Year 5 of the grant award. To this end, we propose the following specific aims: Specific Aim #1: Develop an ethics curriculum for a 12-month certificate program for health professionals, ethics committee members, graduate students, and academic researchers. Specific Aim #2: In Years 2 - 4, implement the developed certificate program through a hybrid of face-to-face and virtual sessions. Specific Aim #3: Enhance professional growth among ethics committee members, health professionals, and academics through the annual in-person workshops in Gambia. Specific Aim #4: Develop and implement a master’s program in Year 5. Achieving sustainable research ethics programs in LMIC remains the ultimate goal of the Fogarty International Center. Gambia’s research and developmental capacity continues to expand and requires sustainable research ethics and research methodology programs. The implementation of research with the highest ethical standards and scientific rigor require high level training in response to societal health needs that contributes to improve the health of Gambians within their socio-cultural contexts.