UNILAG Hosts Training on Building Public Trust in Research

The University of Lagos (UNILAG), in partnership with the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC), hosted a two-day mandatory re-accreditation training titled "Building Public Trust in Research." The event, which took place from July 2 to July 3, 2024, at Nithub, UNILAG, aimed to enhance the responsible conduct of research and the protection of human research participants.

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The training was attended by members of the UNILAG Research Ethics Committee (UNILAGREC) and focused on refining feedback skills, establishing standardized operating procedures, and advocating for the safety and well-being of research participants and investigators.

Key facilitators included:

• Prof. Ademola Ajuwon from the Department of Health Promotion and Education at the University of Ibadan, who presented on international and national guidance documents, ethics of research with vulnerable populations, research integrity, and misconduct.
• Prof. Morenike Ukpong, a Professor of Paediatric Dentistry at Obafemi Awolowo University, who discussed the anatomy and physiology of a research protocol, ethical issues in international research, and community advisory boards and civil society organizations in research.
• Mr. Ado Danladi, NHREC Desk Officer, who covered informed consent, NHREC roles and responsibilities, operations of HREC in Nigeria, and the research protocol review process.

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The training provided participants with the opportunity to enhance their understanding and expertise in evaluating the scientific and ethical aspects of research proposals. It also featured group work, case study reviews, mock HREC tests, and post-training assessments.

In addition to this training, a mandatory session was held for the UNILAG Animal Care and Use Research Ethics Committee (UNILAGACUREC) on June 25, 2024, at the Faculty of Engineering Webinar Room, UNILAG.

Both training programs were sponsored by the African Centre of Excellence for Drug Research, Herbal Medicine Development and Regulatory Science (ACEDHARS), UNILAG, and the UNILAG Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Centre of Excellence (UNILAG-SPESSCE).

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