DHRC Institutional Review Board / Ethics Board (IRB)
The Dodowa Health Research Centre Institutional Review Board (DHRCIRB) was established in October 2014 as an independent representative body to review, evaluate and decide on the ethical merits of the DHRC research protocols. The Board is responsible for reviewing all DHRC research protocols involving the use of human subjects and is committed to ensuring and guaranteeing the rights, dignity, safety and protection of all individuals and communities who participate in DHRC research activities.
The DHRCIRB has a Federalwide Assurance (FWA) with the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and has been registered as an Institutional Review Board. The IRB’s registration number is FWA00028498 and the identifier is IRB00000802.
You will find this approval listed at http://ohrp.cit.nih.gov/search/search.aspx.
Membership
The DHRCIRB comprises of representatives of the following bodies, which is subject to periodic review:
1. Director, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Shai-Osudoku District
2. Assistant Chief Health Research Officer, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Shai-Osudoku District
3. District Director of Health Services, Ningo-Prampram District Health Directorate, Ningo-Prampram District
4. District Director of Health Services, Shai-Osudoku District Health Directorate, Shai-Osudoku District
5. Medical Superintendent, Shai-Osudoku District Hospital, Shai-Osudoku District
6. Head of Social Welfare and Community Development of the Assembly, Shai-Osudoku District
7. District Christian Council Representative, Shai-Osudoku District
8. Shai Traditional Council, Shai-Osudoku District
9. Valley View University, Kpone Katamanso District
10. Executive Secretary African Media and Malaria Research Network, Ghana
11. Public Health Physician, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Shai-Osudoku District
12. Doctoral Candidate School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon
As mandated by federal regulations, at least one member of the NHRCIRB is a clinical scientist, one non-scientist and one community representative.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
The DHRCIRB has standard operating procedures (SOPs) to guide its operations.
Schedule for Board Meeting
The DHRCIRB shall meet on the third Saturday of every other month.
In the event that the Board is unable to convene, the DHRCIRB Chairperson shall provide an alternate meeting date and time.
New Protocol Submission
The Principal Investigator of a protocol is responsible for following protocol submission procedures as outlined in the DHRCIRB SOPs.
The submitting investigator shall submit the research protocol to the DHRCIRB through the Director of DHRC. Please contact the IRB Administrator for further advice before submission on either (+233) 020 871 9996 or by e-mail: irbdodowa@gmail.com
Other activities / Information
Since the establishment of the IRB in DHRC, efforts have been made to build the capacity of both DHRCIRB members and researchers. This has been in the form of participation in international, regional and national workshops on research ethics. Some of these workshops include : PRIM&R and ARENA, Ethics in health research in Africa, Johns Hopkins Ethics Fellowship program and Ethics in health research in developing countries.
The Board also conducts oversight on approved project activities and carries out community sensitization and education on research ethics through radio discussions.
The operations of the Board are guided by international guidelines and principles.
For protocols reviewed and approved by the DHRCIRB see list of ongoing projects and some past projects.
For more information contact:
Email: irbdodowa@gmail.com
Mail Box: The DHRCIRB Administrator, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, P.O. Box DD1, Dodowa, Ghana.
Tel: (+233) 020 871 9996
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