KEMRI Trains KUTRRH Ethics Committee to Boost Research Oversight

The Institute’s Scientific and Ethics Review Unit (SERU), conducted a three-day training for the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) Institutional Scientific Ethics Review Committee. The training, held from June 11th – 13th, at the KEMRI Training Centre, brought together 30 participants with the goal of strengthening research oversight and ethical review practices at the Institution.

During the opening ceremony, the head of SERU, represented by Mr. Timothy Kiplagat emphasised the importance of strong ethics committees, noting that they are the backbone of responsible and credible research. “Ethics committees play a critical role in safeguarding the rights, dignity, and well-being of research participants,” said Kiplagat. “By strengthening their capacity, we ensure that scientific advancement goes hand in hand with ethical responsibility and public trust.”

The training covered key topics including ethical principles in research, the structure and functions of institutional ethics committees, review of study protocols and amendments, considerations for vulnerable populations, informed consent, post-approval monitoring, and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Speaking during the training, facilitators emphasized the importance of institutional ethics committees in safeguarding the rights, dignity, and safety of research participants. “Empowering Institutional ethics units with the knowledge and tools they need is critical to ensuring that research is conducted with integrity and accountability,” said Carol Kithinji.

The training also included practical exercises such as simulated protocol reviews and post-approval monitoring exercises to give participants hands-on experience in ethical decision-making and compliance oversight.

On their part, the KUTRRH team Director Training and Research and Chairperson KUTRRH-ISERC, Dr. Caroline Ngugi, stated, “This training has been incredibly impactful in deepening our understanding of research ethics and strengthening our ability to carry out ethical reviews with confidence and consistency. We are grateful to KEMRI and the SERU team for organizing and offering us this valuable opportunity to learn. We hope this marks the beginning of a continued journey of collaboration and shared commitment to ethical research.”

The collaboration underscores the Institutes commitment to advancing ethical standards and building capacity for robust scientific oversight across institutions further, it also affirms the institutes position as a leader in ethical research. Empowering ethics review committees ensures research integrity, participant protection, and overall excellence in health research.