CREI
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January 2005
The Caribbean Research Ethics Initiative (CREI)
Since January 2005, using the motto: No Ethics – No Research, No Research – No Health, No Health – No Development,
Dr.Anthony Mullings, a Senior Lecturer at the UWI, Mona, Jamaica, has been working, with the assistance of colleagues both in the Caribbean and at the University of Miami Ethics Programs, on a Caribbean Research Ethics Initiative (CREI), an initiative towards strengthening research capacity in the Caribbean. This initiative developed out of a long standing collaboration between Dr. Kenneth Goodman Director of the Bioethics Program of the University of Miami Ethics Programs and Dr.Mullings.
The aim of the initiative is to facilitate the establishment / strengthening of a research ethics framework in both local and national institutions so as to enhance research ethics compliance across the Caribbean. This involves sensitising persons to research ethics in its widest sense, trying to identify and satisfy needs for training and certification, and facilitating the development and implementation of codes, regulations and statutes for research.
This is of great immediate importance, as with the increasing thrust in research in the region, there is increasing concerns about protecting the rights of research subjects and maintaining integrity in research. Additionally, research ethics compliance is now a mandatory requirement of major international funding and publishing groups.
In order to better understand and be able to satisfy the current standards, students, researchers and potential researchers should be encouraged to review material relevant to ethical concerns in research and to show evidence of this if so required. CREI is committed to facilitating these processes and has so far been instrumental in organising two research ethics conferences, several workshops, and making customized web based training in research ethics available to a number of institutions through special arrangements with the University of Miami based CITI Program.
At present work is continuing on expanding access to the web based training programme with customisation to meet the needs of each institution and conducting workshops.
This web site has also being created as a part of the initiative and is devoted to Caribbean Ethics.
The director of the initiative, Dr. Mullings,can be contacted through this website or via email at:
anthony.mullings@caribbeanethics.com.
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BSEC
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May 2006
The Bioethics Society of the English Speaking Caribbean (BSEC) continues to make a sterling contribution to developments in Bioethics throughout the Caribbean. The Society successfully held its Fourth Caribbean Forum in Guyana earlier this year (in May) with a very interesting programme (http://www.bioethicscaribe.org.jm/forum4-programme.pdf). Following the Forum the Annual General Meeting was held along with the election of officers. As the constitutional term of the current president Dr. Derrick Aarons, who had given yeoman service in the post, and other executive members had expired it was necessary to elect a new president and executive. Prof. Cheryl McPherson from the University of Grenada was elected the new President and Mrs. Shereen Cox the new Secretary. For further information check out BSEC at:
http://www.bioethicscaribe.org.jm/
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UWI Centre for Ethics
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January 2009
There is currently a move afoot to have The University of the West Indies establish a Centre for Ethics. This Centre aims to foster ethics teaching research and dialogue thus becoming an important resource not only for the university but for those wishing to utilise its resources.
The vision of the proposed Centre is for it to become a Centre of Excellence in the field of ethics, contribute to the development of the distinctive UWI graduate and enhance the reputation of the UWI.
The specific goals of the Centre are to:
- Provide leadership in the field of ethics within the UWI and the wider Caribbean
- Mobilise external resources to support the work of the Centre
- Work in collaboration / partnership with other organisations to advance the field of ethics
Persons interested in lending a hand to this initiative may contact Dr. Anthony Mullings at:
anthony.mullings@caribbeanethics.com
Update: September 2010 -
Significant advance has been made in taking this project forward where approval was received in principle in February 2010. It is hoped final approval can be obtained before the end of 2010. Apart from the support by the University itself, a major hurdle will be funding for the Centre which to date has benefited significantly from the generosity of our collaborators at the University of Miami Bioethics Programs directly, the CITI program and Pan American Bioethics Initiative of both programs.
Anyone wishing to assist can contact Dr. Anthony Mullings at:
anthony.mullings@caribbeanethics.com
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