Travel Grant to Develop Research Proposal: Clinical and Public Health Researchers' Perspectives about Research Ethics in India. (360G-Wellcome-093828_Z_10_Z)

There has been relatively little research in developing countries on the perspective of research investigators towards several ethical concerns which are critical to international research. As public health investigators, clinical divisions, and research centres around the world partner with Indian researchers, there are questions about establishing global ethics standards, necessary to ensure research integrity, protection of human subjects, trust between research partners, and institutional trust across borders (Benatar 2004' King & Stein 1999). Too often in practice, these universal standards are undermined by conflicting ethical standards, lack of capacity for local research ethics review, lack of fit with global ethics review regulations and process, and the challenges posed by the social, cultural, and political context in the host country (London 2002). Thus, understanding the perspectives from researchers in India, which is among the most important developing countries involved in international research, is an important and necessary step towards understanding these issues. This project aims to explore Indian research investigators' needs, challenges and difficulties faced in conducting international clinical and public health research. The study will explore the various dimensions of needs and concerns that must be addressed to build sustainable international research programs based on integrity, trust, and cross-cultural learning.