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Managing Conflict of Interest in Health Research in Africa: Research is key to promoting and improving health and preventing disease. Resource-poor areas, such as in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, benefit from collaborative research partnerships between clinicians/researchers and industry. But the scientific rigour and research integrity of such collaborations need to be preserved, and the research partnerships need to be protected from threats such as conflicts of interest. Science Councils, and Research Ethics Committees (RECs) play key roles in sustaining science and health research, and are eminently positioned to identify, prevent or manage conflicts of interest. Yet, in sub-Saharan Africa, evidence indicates a need for such institutions to increase their capacity to manage conflicts of interest. UCT, in partnership with researchers in Kenya, Cameroon, Lebanon and elsewhere in South Africa, is steering a project to develop materials in the form of a toolkit and online course that will assist organisations in identifying and addressing conflicts of interest.
This work has been funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
Our research has begun to identify what guidelines are available and used in sub-Saharan Africa by Research Ethics Committees and Science Granting Councils to address conflicts of interest in health research. Click here to see the Table summarising these findings.
Resources
- This free online course aimed at Research Ethics Committee members and Science Granting Council staff is intended to enhance skills to identify, manage and prevent conflict of interest in the health research process. Click here to register and begin the e-course.
- This open access toolkit is a resource for Research Ethics Committee members, Science Granting Council staff, researchers, managers and administrators involved in the research process. Download the Toolkit