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For Young Researchers, Getting Your Research Funded is NOT Hard

Relevant and quality health research must originate from dedicated individuals who continue to improve the health condition in the region and in the nation. These researchers have continually contributed in building new knowledge, innovations and technologies through valuable health and health-related researches. In Davao Region, one of the activities of the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium XI (RHRDC XI) that strengthen and capacitate researchers in crafting quality research through the Mentorship Program. The Mentorship Program is an annual activity which aims to empower local researchers to further submit a full-blown proposal for possible funding and to produce future mentors in the region.

This year, eight scholars from different institutions with multidisciplinary background must undergo three modules to complete the Mentorship Program. The first module comprises lectures and workshop on the preparation and crafting of the introduction, objective of the proposal up to the review of related literature. RHRDC XI invited one of the most seasoned researchers in Davao Region who is currently the Director of Science Resource Center of the University of the Immaculate Conception, Ms. Ludivina M. Porticos, MS, MBA. Three days of workshop and one-on-one coaching transpired to polish the scholars research proposal. The output of the first module will be collected by RHRDC XI and will be forwarded to their chosen mentor for further recommendations.

RHRDC XI is true to its vision to be a self-sustaining nexus with individuals dedicated to improve the health conditions of the people in the region through relevant and quality health researches.

By: MDMC

The Road to Become an Ethical Researcher

While the primary purpose of research is to generate new knowledge, the goal is also to protect the rights and interests of the participants. Protecting humans is naturally a universal knowledge. Hence, majority of our laws are for the protection of rights, safety and welfare of individuals.

Davao Region has been one of the most active regions in crafting and implementing good researches for the benefit of the Mindanaoans. In crafting good research, it must be both scientific and ethical.

To prepare and guide the researchers for a good proposal, the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium XI (RHRDC XI) facilitated a two-day simultaneous ethics training namely: Basic Research Ethics Training and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Workshop on July 1 to 2, 2019 at the Grand Regal Hotel, Davao City.

The Basic Research Ethics Training (BRET) aims to introduce the basic principles of protecting human participants. There were 42 attendees from various RHRDC XI member institutions who actively participated during the training. The trainers for BRET are Dr. Angeles T. Alora and Dr. Angelica Francisco from the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB). The training consists of lectures, group work activities and the most exciting role-playing of the participants.

Meanwhile, the SOP writeshop intends to help develop a Standard Operating Procedures Manual for existing Research Ethics Committees (REC) and improve the quality and consistency in the operational activity of the institutions which will serve as guide in the review process of the proposals. There were 10 member institutions who attended the workshop and these institutions have their intent in applying for PHREB accreditation after thorough polishing of their draft SOPs. The trainers for the SOP workshop were Dr. Marita VT. Reyes and Dr. Josephine Lumitao of PHREB.

True enough that research participant must be safeguarded as what Jean Bernard stated: “Experimenting on human beings is morally necessary and necessarily immoral”.