EACCR3 - Handover of Research Ethics Committee office Jinja Regional Referral Hospital
On 23 March 2023, the Eastern Africa Consortium for Clinical Research (EACCR3) handed over the Research and Ethics Committee (REC) office at the Jinja Regional Referral Hospital (JRRH) in Eastern Uganda. The process started in June 2022, with a meeting between Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI)/EACCR and Jinja RRH. During that meeting, the scientific Liaison Officer, Dr Bernard Kikaire, shared the vision and objectives of EACCR. He emphasised the importance of strengthening the conduct of ICH-GCP compliant research in the region and the need to have functional ethical regulatory committees at the Regional Referral Hospitals.
The Executive Director of JRRH requested EACCR to partner with the hospital to establish a functional REC office and Committee. The Secretariat welcomed the idea, and JRRH signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the EACCR secretariat based at UVRI-Entebbe.
EACCR facilitated two training courses of REC members and had a training workshop at UVRI from 17 to 19 October 2022, and provided guidance on the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) which are required for accreditation by Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST).
UVRI/EACCR has further strengthened the capacity of JRRH staff through other short-term training on topics such as research management and research bioethics. Next steps included field assessment of the site to establish a REC Office, renovation, and installing lockable cabins.
EACCR acknowledges EDCTP for investing in the Regional Networks of Excellence and for creating avenues to work together to build capacity for research infrastructure in Africa.
