Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training at University of Ibadan
Quick Facts
Funder:
Fogarty International Center (FIC) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Countries: Nigeria
Project Site:
University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Project Director/Principal Investigator:
Dr. Rob Murphy
Co-Investigators:
Paula Carney, PhD, RD (Northwestern University)
Olayemi Omotade, MBBS (University of Ibadan)
Kearsley Stewart, PhD (Northwestern University)
During a pilot training that occurred June 2011 as part of Northwestern's participation in the Medical Education Partnership Initiative in Nigeria (MEPIN), Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) topics were presented with small groups of participants from the six medical institutions that are part of the MEPIN consortium. Participants included former AITRP trainees, participants in PEPFAR/APIN initiatives as well as MEPIN.
Topics included in the "Taking Responsibility for Responsible Conduct of Research" course were:
- Research Misconduct-Policies and Responses to Suspected Misconduct
- Mentoring
- Acquisition, Management, Sharing and Ownership
- Conflicting Interests-Recognizing, Acknowledging, Managing, Eliminating
- Publication Practices and Responsible Authorship
- Research with Animals
- Research with Human Subjects and Materials
- Collaborative Science
- Contemporary and Emerging Social and Ethical Issues in Research
The purpose of the pilot was threefold:
- to review topics required as part of NIH Responsible Conduct of Research Training with Nigerian researchers
- to identify how these topics are best addressed within the research culture within Nigeria
- to identify areas where case studies could be developed toculturally adapt RCR topics
Themes, issues and examples as a result of the pilot training will form the basis for a revised curriculum. Northwestern University is modifying and enhancing the RCR curriculum so it is culturally relevant to the conduct of research in Nigeria based on themes, issues and case study examples identified in the pilot. The development, implementation and evaluation of the Taking Responsibility for Responsible Conduct of Research in Nigeria curriculum will involve three phases:
- revision of curriculum and development of case study scripts
- creation of video case studies
- pilot/evaluation of Taking Responsibility for Responsible Conduct of Research in Nigeria" course
The project is based on an innovative curriculum developed at the NIH-funded Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (NUCATS) entitled, “Taking Responsibility for the Responsible Conduct of Research”. This is a 9-session, 18-hour curriculum that meets the current, updated NIH guidelines. There is a dual approach to the curriculum: 1) cover topics required by the updated NIH guidelines and 2) develop behaviors and attitudes among attendees so they engage their trainees and research staff in responsible conduct of research. The Northwestern University curriculum does this through scenarios, small group discussion and projects designed to promote interaction with trainees and their mentors.
The resulting curriculum, “Taking Responsibility for Responsible Conduct of Research in Nigeria” used video-based scenarios as a basis for exploring RCR and creating a cadre of researchers who are trained to both practice responsible conduct of research and foster a culture that engages trainees and research staff in RCR in Nigeria.
This page last updated Dec 19, 2011