Strengthening research ethics systems in Latin America and the Caribbean (360G-Wellcome-220028_Z_19_Z)

Strengthening research ethics systems in Latin America and the Caribbean This proposal of the Regional Program on Bioethics of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) aims at significantly improving the regional research ethics landscape and, specifically, at strengthening research ethics systems and enhancing ethics preparedness to conduct research during emergencies. In response to a 2018 explicit request from the countries in the Americas to advance research ethics with a systemic approach, PAHO’s Regional Program on Bioethics developed indicators and a strategy to address the regional challenges. While this action has already triggered progress rapidly in few countries (e.g. Peru), PAHO’s resources to scale up these efforts as requested by the countries are very limited. This grant would allow PAHO to (a) assess the current situation using indicators, (b) advance change in several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean using national research ethics policies as a strategy, (c) support the implementation of such policies through an online tool for ethics review, and (d) share this model so it can be replicated by other regions. PAHO is uniquely positioned to achieve these outcomes due to its ongoing work supporting national health authorities on bioethics.