11 January 2018 – Following the Regional Director’s re-formulation of the Eastern Mediterranean Research Ethics Review Committee, with an essential function of reviewing protocols of health research projects involving human subjects submitted to WHO for funding in the Region, the Research Ethics Review Committee held its annual meeting from 22 to 23 October, 2017 at the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. 

The objectives of the meeting were to:

• review the Committee’s work during the period of the Programme Budget 2016-2017;
• finalize checklists (for reviewers, investigators);
• agree on modalities for taking forward recommendations of recent meetings;
• plan future work in light of the Programme Budget for 2018-2019. 

The meeting was inaugurated by the Secretary of the Research Ethics Review Committee (Dr Ahmed Mandil), on behalf of Acting Regional Director Dr Jaouad Mahjour and the Directorr of the Information, Evidence and Research Department Dr Arash Rashidian and chaired by Professor Gamal Serour (Egypt).

The meeting began with remembrance of late Dr Mahmoud Fikri, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The meeting concluded with the following recommendations:

• sending letters of appreciation to the members of the previous Committees;
• encouraging members to take relevant WHO online courses;
• developing a list of FAQs to be posted online in relation to research ethics review as a guide for research applicants;
• developing templates for informed consent forms and clearance;
• developing ICF for genetic and bio-banking related research;
• identifying best modalities for linking the Research Ethics Review Committee with national committees;
• encouraging principal investigators of WHO funded proposals to publish their papers; and allocating time for side meetings during global and regional bioethics summits.  

Full report

Summary report on the Meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Research Ethics Review Committee, Cairo, Egypt, 22–23 October 2017