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Seminar-Workshop on Ethics in Health Research conducted by HRDCR IV-A

Recognizing the vital role of producing quality health researches in Region IV-A, the Subcommittee on Ethics of the Health Research and Development Consortium Region IV-A (HRDCR IV-A) organized the Basic Health Research Ethics Seminar-Workshop in coordination with the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) through the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB).

Faculty and researchers of Batangas Regional Hospital (BRH), De La Salle Lipa (DLS-Lipa), University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), DOH-Center for Health and Development Region IV-A (DOH-CHD4A), Lyceum of the Philippines University Batangas (LPU-Batangas), Cavite State University (CAVSU) and De La Salle Health Sciences Institute Independent Ethics Committee (DLSHSI-IEC) participated in the said event last October 3-4, 2012 at the DLSHSI, Dasmariñas Cavite.

The two-day seminar-workshop aimed to help participants do ethical research, sensitize them regarding the nature and significance of ethics in health research, practice how to apply these concepts, describe the different controls for Ethics in Research and motivate them towards doing and advocating quality ethical research. The seminar was also designed to encourage the other HRDCR IV-A member-institutions to organize their own Ethics Review Committee (ERC) and to support the PHREB campaign of accrediting all the ERCs in the country.

The activity consisted of lectures and workshops led by experts from the PHREB namely: Dr. Rosario Angeles T. Alora and Dr. Doris R. Benavides. Lectures focused on Ethical Research, Dealing with Subjects and the Different Controls for Ethics in Research. Participants were also given pre and post tests to measure their learning for the seminar-workshop. Presentation and critiquing of outputs by group representatives followed each lecture and workshop.

Basing from the result of feedbacks, comments and the post tests of participants, the organizers are confident that the seminar-workshop substantially added to the previous understanding of the researchers in conducting ethically sound health researches thus producing future quality health researches.

“After all is said and done, the best safeguard for ethical research is the ethical researcher.”*

* Alora AT. Milestones in Health Research Ethics. In: Alora AT, editor. Introduction to Health Research Ethics.p5

HRDCR IV-A holds HERDIN NeoN System Training

The Subcommittee on Research Utilization of the Health Research and Development Consortium Region IV-A, thru the initiative of its Chair, Dr. Reuben B. De Castro Jr. and HRDCR IV-A Coordinator, Dr. Melchor Victor G. Frias IV, conducted a one-day training on HERDIN NeoN System as part of the consortium's resource sharing program.

The training was held at the Multimedia Room of the Romeo P. Ariniego MD Library, De La Salle Health Sciences Institute, Dasmariñas City, Cavite last August 29, 2012.

HERDIN Neon (Health Research and Development Information Network Network-of-Networks) is a system and database that enables online exchange of information and allows distributed knowledge repository network. HERDIN NeoN covers health researches in the Philippines, and/or health researches authored by Filipinos. With NEON system, experts and other industry players are able to connect, share and collaborate for better management of information leading to wider utilization and applications of health research results. (http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/database)

The activity aimed to establish a system of collaboration among member-institutions of HRDCR IV-A through integration and sharing of health researches using HERDIN NeoN System for easy access to research information and to utilize the HRDC research outputs effectively. It was attended by 26 participants from HRDCR IV-A member-institutions, 21 were representatives from academic institutions, 2 from hospital institutions and 3 from government institutions.

The workshop included lectures from the invited speakers/trainers from the Research Information, Communication and Utilization Division of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) namely: Mr. Joshua Ababa, Ms. Mylene Marco, Mr. Orlando Oliverio Jr. and Ms. Meychelle Angoy. The training consisted of discussions on the history of HERDIN where it started in 1987 as a mere database at PCHRD up to the development of its newest version in 2011. The hardware requirements to be able to host the database was also discussed which was followed by a hands-on operation of the system to the main database content. A one-on-one consultation was also conducted for those who were interested to host their own website for HERDIN.

At the end of the workshop, the participants were given CDs, brochures and posters which will be used to promote the HERDIN database in the participants’ respective institutions.*