Research Ethics

Research at the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences is conducted according to the principles of academic excellence, community, integrity, inclusiveness and professionalism.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all researchers and research affiliates have put into consideration any ethics implications arising from the research design, methodology, conduct, dissemination, and the archiving, future use, sharing and linkage of the data produced. In this regard, the centre has an ethics committee called Kamuzu University of Health Sciences Research Committee (KUREC) Studies conducted in the KUHeS include those that require participation of human subjects. All such research requires ethical review and approval. KUHeS established KUREC in order to perform these functions. 

Guidelines for ethical and scientific standards for the conduct of research involving human subjects have been developed and established. These include the Declaration of Helsinki (WMA), the International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects (/CIOMSWHO), Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice (ICH).  Compliance with these guidelines helps to ensure that the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of research participants are promoted and that the results of the investigations are credible. In addition, there are national guidelines by the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST), formerly known as the National Research Council of Malawi (NRCM), which are based on international guidelines. KUHeS developed its first guidelines for KUREC (Then COMREC) in 1995. 

KUHeS has undertaken a review of the original guidelines to keep them in line with both the National Commission for Science and Technology and international guidelines. KUREC is constituted as an independent scientific and ethics committee through the National Commission for Science and Technology. Its primary responsibility is to KUHeS and to the Government of Malawi through the NCST. KUREC is expected to carry out its functions of ethical and scientific review. Promotion and coordination of research and publications is the function of the Research and Publications committee.

For any submissions to comrec please follow the link : http://rims.kuhes.ac.mw/