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Strengthening Ethical Review Capacity in Democratic Republic of Congo (SERC-DRC)

Award Number: G11TW011542
ORGANIZATION: FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/19/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2023

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Strengthening Ethical Review Capacity in Democratic Republic of Congo (SERC-DRC) - Project Summary/Abstract The growing research enterprise in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) has brought attention to the need for high quality research infrastructure, especially institutional review boards (IRBs) for the protection of human subjects. Sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly the site of HIV research which raises particularly complex and challenging ethical issues involving vulnerable and marginalized populations, fair benefits to participants, and appropriate standards of care. Under such circumstances, sound ethical review requires both experience and sophistication, along with understanding of the local context, to adequately protect participants. At the same time, given that much HIV research is multi-site, it also is essential that reviews occur with some degree of efficiency. In addition, building capacity for local ethics review and ensuring adequate protection of human subjects in HIV research advances not only the global HIV response but biomedical research more broadly. The specific aims of the George Washington University (GWU)-Kinshasa University (KU) Strengthening Ethical Review Capacity in Democratic Republic of Congo (SERC-DRC) proposed project are: Aim 1: To strengthen ethics knowledge and reasoning skills of the KU School of Public Health (KH-SPH) Institutional Review Board: through KUSPH-IRB leadership and key members attending a GWU one-month intensive program, ethics seminars at KUSPH, and a joint webinar program. Aim 2: To enhance knowledge of IRB administration and standard operating procedures at KUSPH-IRB: through intensive technical assistance, brief attachments at GWU IRB, local support by African consultants, and transfer of best practices from GWU. Aim 3: To improve efficiency and performance of KUSPH-IRB: by intensive mentoring including in-person visits from African experts; biweekly support phone calls; in-person visit from GWU-IRB experts; implementation of a tracking and quality system; support for staff and key equipment. Aim 4: To evaluate performance of the KUSPH-IRB over a 3-year period: through administration of an existing knowledge and skills assessment tool for members/staff; and administration of an existing IRB needs assessment and efficiency tool for KUSPH-IRB. By the end of this project, we expect to have strengthened the administrative infrastructure of KUSPH-IRB operations and in turn improved its administrative efficiency, reduced review times, and improved the quality of the review process. We also expect to increase the knowledge and skills of all current IRB members such that changes in quality of ethical review can be sustained. The proposed collaboration will build upon a strong GWU-KUSPH partnership, our 20 years of experience in developing ethics capacity in Africa, our experience with NIH-Fogarty programs, and our expertise in global health in Africa, to elevate KUSPH-IRB as a regional leader in research ethics review.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$308 )
2024	2022	GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (THE)	1918 F ST NW	WASHINGTON	DC	20052	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	USA	International Research and Research Training	000	3	5/1/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$308
														Subtotal = -$308

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $100,505 )
2022	2022	GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, THE	1918 F ST NW	WASHINGTON	DC	20052	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	USA	International Research and Research Training	001	3	12/17/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$100,505
2022	2021	GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, THE	1918 F ST NW	WASHINGTON	DC	20052	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	USA	International Research and Research Training	000	2	10/15/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $100,505

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $100,588 )
2021	2021	GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, THE	1918 F ST NW	WASHINGTON	DC	20052	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	USA	International Research and Research Training	001	2	12/24/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$100,588
2021	2020	GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, THE	1918 F ST NW	WASHINGTON	DC	20052	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	USA	International Research and Research Training	000	1	11/23/2020	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $100,588

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $102,674 )
2020	2020	GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, THE	1918 F ST NW	WASHINGTON	DC	20052	DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	USA	International Research and Research Training	000	1	5/19/2020	NEW	$102,674
														Subtotal = $102,674

Grand Total All Awards = $303,459

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Strengthening Ethical Review Capacity in Democratic Republic of Congo (SERC-DRC)

Award Number: G11TW011542

ORGANIZATION: FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/19/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2023

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