MERETI Middle East Research Ethics Training Initiative

Objectives Strengthen institutional training capacity in research ethics Enhance ethical review capacity of health research Sustainability of capacity

MERETI Sponsor: Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, U.S.A Training Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore, U.S.A Personnel: Program Director: Henry Silverman, MD, MA Teaching faculty at University of Maryland

Audience Physicians Nurses Dentists Investigators Members of research ethics committees Social scientists Philosophers Others with interests in research or ethics.

Educational Programs Individuals –8-month Certificate Program –Master of Science Degree Targeted Groups –Workshops –Conferences Members of IRBs Investigators

Philosophy of training to achieve sustainability Individual –Provide a long-term training experience –Develop a group of individuals with special expertise in research ethics Curriculum development in universities Researches Chairs of IRBs –Strength of > six-months training experiences as opposed to 2-3 day training workshops

Certificate Program Description 8-month program –2-months academic courses at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA –6-months: research ethics project in candidate’s home country

Certificate Program Requirements Recognized advanced degree (MD, Masters, PhD) in one of the healthcare sciences, law, philosophy, etc. Two letters of references –High institutional officials to ensure support of candidate after training Funding Living expenses for two months in Baltimore, Maryland, round-trip economy airfare, and registration fees.

Examples of Projects Research Projects –Survey studies –Analysis of existing guidelines/laws Curriculum Development –Undergraduate –Post-graduate Web-based Training –Development of training modules – Development of institutional IRBs

Description: Two-year program leading to the granting of a Masters of Science degree with a focus on research ethics First Year: –12 months of academic courses at the University of Maryland Baltimore campus Second Year: –research project in candidate’s home country Master’s Program

Requirements: Advanced degree (MD, Master, PhD) Two letters of reference Letter of support from institutional official guaranteeing a position in ethics after training Satisfy admission requirements of graduate program at University of Maryland Funding: Living expenses in the US, round-trip airfare, tuition costs

MERETI 2005 Candidates

MERETI 2006 Candidates

Research Ethics Workshops Targeted Audience Members of research ethics committees Investigators Description 1- 2 day workshops –Egypt, Sudan, and Jordan Theoretical and practical experiences –Review protocols/informed consent forms

Suez Canal University Workshop

National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute

Ethics Workshop in Jordan

Impact of Jordan Workshop Enhanced awareness of Clinical Trial Law –Investigators –Public Revitalization of National Ethics Committee Re-construct IRB in Jordanian Medical Army Services Analysis of protocol review procedures at Jordanian FDA

Developments Collaborations with CBEC Joint Master’s Degree Programs with Universities in Eastern Mediterranean Region –Public Health –Community Medicine –Forensic Medicine Network of IRBs

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