By Ifeoma ikem
Researchers, both in the medical and non-medical fields and higher institutions, have been urged to embrace integrity and due diligence when carrying out research work.
Professor Ebenezer Olatunde Farombi, head, department of Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, Nigeria gave the advice during a chat with journalists in Lagos.
Speaking at the event themed, “Policies, Practices and Ethics of Biomedical Research,’ Prof. Ebenezer said integrity is vital in carrying out research work.
“In carrying out research first and foremost, the researcher must understand the scientific methodology; again such must not engage in scientific misconduct like fabrication or falsifying data, because these are things to be considered as misconduct,” he warned.
Adding that failure to heed the advice leads the scientist to continue such “practices that will impact society negatively.”
Professor Abiola Olubumi Magbagbeola, dean faculty of basic medical sciences University of Lagos in her welcome address said advances in biomedical science and technology, and their application in practice of medicine, was confronting society with new ethical problems and advised that measures be devised to protect against possible abuses.
She noted that the Nuremberg code, issued in 1947, laid down the standards for carrying out human experimentation, emphasizing the subject’s voluntary consent. “The mere formulation of ethical guidelines for biomedical research will hardly resolve all the moral doubts that can arise in association with such research, but the guidelines can at least draw the attention of investigators, sponsors and ethical review committees to the need to consider carefully the ethical implications of research protocols and the conduct of research,and thus conduce to high scientific and ethical research,” she noted.
Demanding that stakeholders too commit to improving various policies and resources in promoting and supporting these high standards, the expert further urged them to ensure that “our own internal policies and practices help to the reproducibility and rigour of the research which we conduct”.
Also, Mr Adidemi Akindele(Associate Professor) , Chairman of the organizing committee, said the conference theme encompasses disciplines primarily focused on the biology of Human health and disease.
These basically combine the fields of biology and medicine with the ultimate aim of sustaining and improving the health of humans and animals.
His words: “Biomedical research is an evolutionary process requiring careful experimentation by scientists, including biologists and chemists. Discovery of new medicines and therapies requires careful scientific experimentation, development and evaluation. Benefits from outcomes of biomedical research include development of new drugs,vaccines and procedures to prevent or treat diseases. In all, our society will maximize the benefits of biomedical sciences/research if we can get our priorities right, put in place enabling policies and adhere to the global standards of practises and ethics.
We will get better insights into where we are, where we ought to be, what our targets/priorities should, what we are not doing right “.