The Johns Hopkins-Fogarty African Bioethics Training Program (FABTP) is in its 11th year. Since 2000, we have provided training in research ethics to 30 professionals from 14 African countries. Our trainees have achieved remarkable success; they collectively have produced 128 bioethics-related publications, served on 36 IRBs, and been awarded 43 grants. Sixteen are working full time in bioethics, 10 entered or completed graduate degree programs, and 4 have served as key African faculty in Fogarty funded training programs. In 2000, there were few bioethics programs in Africa. Recognizing the need for African voices in bioethics, we developed a program for individual scholars from Africa with commitment to be bioethics leaders in their countries. Since 2000, however, more research ethics training opportunities have emerged in Africa. Guided by a small group of African bioethics leaders, we restructured our FABTP in 2009 to offer institutional partnerships with institutions ready to move to the next level with research ethics. Since 2010, we competitively selected one African institution per year with existing strengths in bioethics for the FABTP-- helping the institution deepen its footprint and expertise in research ethics. In 2010, we worked with University of Botswana, and in 2011, we are in an exciting partnership with Makerere University, Uganda. The institutional approach is consistent with other capacity development initiatives in Africa, with the growing recognition that the success of well trained individuals relies on strong and well grounded institutions that can foster a productive and satisfying career path. This is an important strategic step to contributing to a secure future of research ethics in Africa. As such, our specific aims are: 1) To enhance institutional capacity in research ethics through one year partnerships with five different African institutions committed to establishing a dedicated program or center for research ethics and selected for existing depth in and commitment to research ethics programs; 2) To continue to nurture through personal contact, web interaction, targeted invitations, personal mentoring, and professional matchmaking a network of high quality African research ethics scholars as a resource for the continent; 3) To rigorously evaluate both individual and institutional training efforts, to modify in real time approaches that are not effective, and to respond to guidance of our expert and thoughtful African and U.S. Advisory Committee. Our application builds on the extraordinary strengths at Johns Hopkins in both bioethics and global health research, where collaborations exist with institutions in more than 20 African countries. We also build on the practical and substantive experience of our 11 year FABTP history. Our program has been productive and successful, we believe, in great part because we work so closely with current and alumni FABTP trainees, and with our JHU global health colleagues who consistently model commitments to collaboration, to capacity development, and to the highest standards of quality.

Public Health Relevance

The Johns Hopkins-Fogarty African Bioethics Training Program (FABTP) competitively selects one African institution per year with existing strengths in bioethics to help the institution deepen its footprint and expertise in research ethics. This institutional approach strengthens the capacity of African Institutions to conduct sound research in public health and is consistent with the growing recognition that the success of well trained individuals relies on strong and well grounded institutions that can foster a productive and satisfying career path. FABTP will enhance capacity in research ethics through one year partnerships with five different African institutions committed to establishing a dedicated program or center for research ethics, and develop a network of high quality African research ethics scholars.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Type
Education Projects (R25)
Project #
4R25TW001604-17
Application #
8995719
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Sina, Barbara J
Project Start
2000-09-30
Project End
2017-01-31
Budget Start
2016-02-01
Budget End
2017-01-31
Support Year
17
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
Zulu, Joseph M; Ali, Joseph; Hallez, Kristina et al. (2018) Ethics challenges and guidance related to research involving adolescent post-abortion care: a scoping review. Reprod Health 15:71
Kass, Nancy E; Ali, Joseph; Hallez, Kristina et al. (2016) Bioethics training programmes for Africa: evaluating professional and bioethics-related achievements of African trainees after a decade of Fogarty NIH investment. BMJ Open 6:e012758
Hyder, Adnan A; Ali, Joseph; Hallez, Kristina et al. (2015) Exploring Institutional Research Ethics Systems: A Case Study From Uganda. AJOB Empir Bioeth 6:1-14
Ali, Joseph; Kass, Nancy E; Sewankambo, Nelson K et al. (2014) Evaluating international research ethics capacity development: an empirical approach. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 9:41-51
Ndebele, Paul; Wassenaar, Douglas; Benatar, Solomon et al. (2014) Research ethics capacity building in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review of NIH Fogarty-funded programs 2000–2012. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 9:24-40
Hyder, Adnan A; Pratt, Bridget; Ali, Joseph et al. (2014) The ethics of health systems research in low- and middle-income countries: a call to action. Glob Public Health 9:1008-22
Hyder, Adnan A; Zafar, Waleed; Ali, Joseph et al. (2013) Evaluating institutional capacity for research ethics in Africa: a case study from Botswana. BMC Med Ethics 14:31
Osamor, Pauline E; Kass, Nancy (2012) Decision-making and motivation to participate in biomedical research in southwest Nigeria. Dev World Bioeth 12:87-95
Ali, Joseph; Hyder, Adnan A; Kass, Nancy E (2012) Research ethics capacity development in Africa: exploring a model for individual success. Dev World Bioeth 12:55-62
Appiah-Poku, John; Newton, Sam; Kass, Nancy (2011) Participants' perceptions of research benefits in an African genetic epidemiology study. Dev World Bioeth 11:128-35

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