Dr Olaitan Olusegun, from Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has charged the institutional health research committees to ensure ethical conduct of international collaborative studies by researchers.
Olusegun made the call during the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ethics and Research Unit Maiden Edition programme at Main Auditorium, OAUTHC, on Friday, in Ile-Ife.
With the theme: "International Collaborative Research: its merit and Demerits"; while she spoke on: Regulatory Framework in the Light of Biosecurity in Research & Sample Sharing in International Collaboration".
In her lecture, she emphasised that medical practitioner especially those who carry out both teaching and the clinical activities should involved in some forms of research in the course of their practice.
According to her, research update knowledge and improve teaching; prove and establish development trends in the field of medicine and proffer newer and advanced treatment options, as well as give economic benefits and academic promotion in institutions.
The Guest Speaker said that research governance system would enhances the promotion of socially beneficial research and modern development; improves the quality of research and helps build public trust in research trials and processes.
The Don explained that there are some regulatory framework that govern health research like: Code of Medical Ethics(CME); Data Protection Act; National Code of Health Research Ethics.
Others listed are: National Health Acts and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)Act and Drug and Related Products (Registration etc) Act, among others.
The expert expressed that the materials transfer agreement should include the type of materials, anticipated use, location of storage outside Nigeria, duration of such storage, limitations on use, transfer and termination of use of such materials.
She stressed further that the Health Research Ethics Code shall protect the right of researchers to publish their research and to use the outcome of research in manner consistent with current practice.
Also, in his Lecture, Prof. William Fawole, Department of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), charges all Nigerians whether researcher or non- researcher to be aware of foreigners and foreign agents.
Fawole who treated the topic "International Collaborative Research: Its Merits and Demerits", said that foreign governments always collaborates with researchers with the aim of claiming that they want to do good for them.
He stated further that it is important for researchers to know the motives behind their granting aid, even the if the proposed fund is for the donors benefit, or there's hidden agenda to do so.
" So if they are given aid, research assistance or collaboration, we must think of their ends achievement, because they present it as free, but nothing goes for nothing.
"Yes we need international collaboration, we need funding from abroad, we need partnership, aid, but we need to be careful whom we take it from, of what purposes with thorough investigation" .
He admonished the researchers to conduct due diligence and risk-benefit analysis of foreign funding and collaboration before venturing into research, whether it's a purely scientific endeavor for the advancement of knowledge and benefits of humanity.
According to him, the researchers must be intelligent enough to avoid foreigners not to exploit their intelligence, fact, data for their own advantages or for other unstated purposes or 'hidden agenda's lest they get drawn into nefarious enterprises.
The Speaker lamented that Nigeria government rarely fund research institutes to perform optimally and casually.
"Most active foreign funding agencies here in Nigeria and generally in developing countries are governments of the US, EU, Canada as well as the agencies, foundations, Research institutes and centre founded and funded by them.
"US Agency for International Development (USAID); US National Institutes of Health US Centres for Disease Control(USCDC); National Endowment for Democracy (NED);Germany's DAAD;UK Department for International Development (DFID)". He listed
In his remarks, Prof. John Okeniyi, the Chief Medical Director, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), welcomed the Guest speakers, Principal Officers, Dean's, HoDs, VCs from other Universities and other participants.
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