Strengthening Research Ethics Capacity in West Africa, 2015-2024

Kyle Ferguson, Department of Philosophy, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
Clement Adebamowo, Center for Bioethics and Research, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Adebayo O. Adejumo, Center for Bioethics and Research, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Temidayo Ogundiran, Center for Bioethics and Research, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Muktar H. Aliyu, Department of Health Policy and Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Elisa J. Gordon, Department of Surgery and Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Zubairu Iliyasu, Department of Community Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.
Christopher Agulanna, Center for Bioethics and Research, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Shehu U. Adamu, Department of Public Health, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
Olusegun Adeyemo, Center for Bioethics and Research, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Euzebus C. Ezugwu, Bioethics Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria.
Samuel A. Adeyemo, Center for Bioethics and Research, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Arthur L. Caplan, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Olugbenga Ogedegbe, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Troy D. Moon, Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tulane University Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
Elizabeth Heitman, Program in Ethics in Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
Jonathan C. Taylor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babagida (IBB) Graduate School of International Studies, University of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia.
Imran Bari, Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.
Adnan A. Hyder, Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.
Paul Ndebele, Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.
Seydou Doumbia, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali.
Veronica P. Njie-Carr, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Jainaba Sey-Sawo, Department of Nursing and Reproductive Health, School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of The Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia.
Henry Silverman, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Effua Usuf, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Serrekunda, The Gambia.
Thomas Senghore, Department of Nursing and Reproductive Health, School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of The Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia.
Isabel Inês de Pina Araújo, Department of Sciences and Technology, Universidade de Cabo Verde, Praia, Santiago, Cabo Verde.
Amos K. Laar, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Emmanuel R. Ezeome, Bioethics Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-30-2025

Journal

Journal of empirical research on human research ethics : JERHRE

DOI

10.1177/15562646251335076

Keywords

West Africa; bioethics; capacity building‌; collaboration; developing countries; ethics education; international research; research ethics; research ethics committee/IRB review; research integrity (RI)‌; responsible conduct of research (RCR)‌

Abstract

This article reviews the development and evolution of Fogarty International Center-funded research ethics training programs in West Africa over the past decade. In response to local and global challenges in bioethics and biomedical research, these programs are fostering ethical awareness, shaping local and national ethics review systems, and enhancing bioethics capacity in the region. These efforts have expanded alongside increased democratic governance, technological advances, and significant increases in global research funding and international research collaborations, particularly related to HIV/AIDS and malaria. We believe that the West Africa Bioethics (WAB) Training Program in Nigeria played a central role in this growth, serving as a model for subsequent programs in Ghana, Mali, and The Gambia. This paper describes the nature, successes, and challenges of these programs. It also outlines an agenda and strategies for future work to enhance research ethics and bioethics capacities in the region, both in terms of education and governance.

Department

Global Health

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