WIRB International Fellows Program
Conducted in partnership with the World Health Organization Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO/TDR), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Washington, the WIRB International Fellows Program is a six-month long training program for foreign health care professionals who desire to learn how to establish or improve review boards in their regions. It is an intensive program designed to help participants develop the skills necessary to create and/or manage and administer international review boards that will protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects. The World Health Organization (WHO/TDR) chose WIRB to host this program because of WIRB's long history of excellence.
The selection process begins with institutions selecting potential Fellows from their eligible health professionals who demonstrate a commitment to research and an interest in bioethics. Health care leaders in each of the candidate's countries also recommend them. The WHO/TDR, along with WIRB administrators, make the final selections. Eligible candidates must have an operational knowledge of research procedures and methods, an ability to speak and read English, and hold positions with bioethical responsibilities in their institutions. If you are interested in participating in the WIRB International Fellows Program, please contact WIRB at clientservices@wirb.com.
In the first weeks of the program the fellows work with a mentor at WIRB who guides them through WIRB Board procedures. They attend Board meetings where they see firsthand the intricacies of conducting research reviews and learn about concepts such as vulnerability and confidentiality. Outside of Board, they learn about regulations and attend a series of bioethics lectures arranged by WIRB, including guest lecturers and training materials provided by NIH.
After the first six weeks the Fellows receive an interim assessment that determines their eligibility to become Board members. If they are appointed members, they participate in Board meeting discussions and present protocol and consent document reviews.
When the Fellows successfully finish their training, WIRB issues them a certificate of completion.
When the Fellows return to their homelands they are expected to improve or develop review boards in their geographic regions. However, they also continue to be WIRB Board members and are available to the Olympia panels as resources for information about their communities and cultures.
The program demonstrates WIRB' s leadership in the world of ethics review boards and helps to carry its mission to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects to a new level by training representatives from around the world to review and oversee research in an ethical and responsible manner.
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