Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH), Jos, has held a one-day workshop for members of its Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) to strengthen their capacity for ethical, transparent and rigorous research review.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening Ethical and Rigorous Research Review,” provided an opportunity for committee members to enhance their knowledge, share experiences and improve their effectiveness in reviewing research protocols.
In his welcome address, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Stephen Anzaku, appreciated the committee for its dedication and commitment to duty. He emphasised that research is essential to societal development and that proper research practices are fundamental to quality service delivery and the advancement of humanity. He expressed hope that the workshop would further equip members to discharge their responsibilities effectively in promoting exceptional, Christ-centred research.
The Chairman of the Committee, Dr Winas, expressed appreciation to the CMD and management for their continued support, noting that their encouragement contributes significantly to the committee’s ability to carry out its responsibilities.
Speaking on “From Individual Responsibility to Institutional Accountability,” Prof. Adenike Jimoh highlighted research integrity as the foundation of credible and responsible research. She explained that integrity must be upheld throughout the research process, emphasising principles such as honesty, rigour, transparency, accountability, fairness, respect and independence. She also discussed research misconduct, including plagiarism and falsification, while stressing the importance of independence, confidentiality, conflict-of-interest management and consistency in ethical review.
In another session, Prof. George Chima addressed the guidelines for HREC accreditation and reaccreditation. He highlighted the roles of the National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) in providing national oversight of health research ethics and the importance of aligning ethical review practices with established standards. He stressed that research reviews must be conducted independently and consistently, with careful attention to the final findings of reviewed protocols.
The workshop also featured sessions on ethical review best practices and BHUTH HREC review procedures, followed by interactive discussions that allowed participants to exchange ideas, ask questions and clarify areas of concern.
The workshop reaffirmed BHUTH’s commitment to promoting research integrity, strengthening ethical oversight and supporting responsible scientific inquiry for improved healthcare delivery, clinical innovation and the advancement of knowledge.
At BHUTH, we remain committed to exceptional, Christ-centred healthcare, supported by ethical research and a culture of accountability.
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