Page 5 - Ethical Guidelines for Conducting Research Studies Involving Human Subjects

SECTION – A

01. ETHICAL PURSPECTIVE OF BMRC

Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) was established in 1972 by
the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as an
Autonomous Body under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(MOH&FW). As per resolution of the Government, BMRC is the focal point
for Health Research. The objectives of BMRC are to identify problems and
issues relating to medical and health sciences and to determine priority
areas in research on the basis of health care needs, goals, policies and
objectives.

BMRC organize and promote scientific research in various fields of
medicine, public health, reproductive health and nutrition with specific
references to primary health care needs for the application and utilization
of the results of health research.

Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) is the Secretariat for the
National Research Ethics Committee (NREC). According to BMRC Policy
each and every Project Proposal approved by the Scientific Review
Committee must get ethical approval before funding. Scientific validity
should be approved by a valid Scientific Review Committee before
submission of a research project to NREC.

BMRC has National Research Ethics Committee (NREC) for Ethical
Clearance of research works. The Ethics Review Committee of BMRC was
established in 1979. The Committee consists of 9-13 Members (Lawyer,
Female Representative, Religious Leader, are included as Member).
The Committee is formed by the Council under Guidelines for
formation of Ethics Review Committee for “tenure of 3 Years. The
Committee is registered in OHRP as an official IRB (lRB No. 0001494)
and has FWA (#00006444). The Committee has given ethical
approvals to investigators of numerous International Agencies and
academic Institutions (e.g. WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, Harvard, Johns
Hopkins, Columbia, Cambridge Universities, Intl. NGOs etc.)

1.1 Role of BMRC:

As per National Research Strategy (Memo No: MOHFW/ Hospital -2 /
Misc-16/07/06, date: 05 January, 2009) the followings are the Role of

BMRC on ethical issues.

1. Co-ordinate health research by liaising with all research
stakeholders.

2. BMRC will assist the government in the development of health
research priorities.

BMRC ETHICAL GUIDELINE ON HUMAN SUBJECTS Page 1