TCC Africa Co-hosts Research Integrity Workshop for Uganda Research Ethics and Review Board Committee Chairpersons

Kampala, Uganda – November 29, 2024 – The Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa), in collaboration with Digital Science and Uganda National Council for Science and Technology , successfully co-hosted the 39th Forum for Research Ethics Committee Chairpersons (FRECU) at Hotel Africana in Kampala. This event provided a vital platform for leaders in research ethics to exchange insights and discuss the future of ethical practices in scholarly research across the region.

TCC Africa, established in 2006 as the first African-based training center focused on effective communication skills for scientists, aims to enhance the visibility and impact of African science through capacity building. This forum is part of the Research Integrity Africa project that spreads accross all corners of the continent, including and not limited to Western, Southern & Eastern Africa. For more information on the other projects relating to Research Integrity Africa project; Click here.

“It is important to build capacity for Research Ethics Committee boards or review boards because we need to look at research integrity beyond just conducting research but also in scholarly publishing,” stated Mrs. Joy Owango, Executive Director of TCC Africa.

The forum also featured other distinguished speakers, including:

Dr. Leslie McIntosh, Vice President of Research Integrity at Digital Science and founder of Ripeta. Dr. McIntosh’s spoke on the need for improvement in scientific research quality and integrity. She presented on Research Integrity Trust Markers, emphasizing the significance of transparent reporting and reproducible experiments.

Emily Chenette, Editor-in-Chief of PLOS ONE, and Maria Zalm, Senior Editor at PLOS, discussed key developments in research integrity and the policies implemented by PLOS to uphold ethical standards throughout the publication process.

Ivan Oransky, distinguished journalist and editor-in-chief of The Transmitter, shared insights from his extensive experience in medical journalism, highlighting the critical role of ethical reporting.

Opolot, H., Owango, J., McIntosh, Dr. L., Chenette, E., Zalm, M., & Oransky, I. (2024). Capacity Building for Ugandan Research Ethics and Review Boards . TCC Africa. https://doi.org/10.21428/359fb1d2.dc5b38be

Partner Organizations:

Digital Science: A leader in advancing research integrity, Digital Science utilizes a comprehensive scientific information system that integrates publications, datasets, grants, patents, and policy documents to provide insights into the research lifecycle. Their commitment to addressing complex issues surrounding research integrity is vital for fostering trust within the scientific community.

For further information about Digital Science and its initiatives, visit https://www.digital-science.com/

Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST): Established by Act of Parliament in 1990, UNCST advises on policy matters essential for promoting science and technology integration into national development strategies. Their vision is to lead Uganda towards becoming a science and technology-driven country.

For further information about Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNST) and its initiatives , visit: https://www.uncst.go.ug/

TCC Africa’s mission is to contribute to the increase in profile, locally, and internationally, of African science, and its impact on the life of Africans, by improving skills in technical communication in all forms, at academia and other relevant forums, in Africa. Our objective is to train. support. empower. researchers through capacity in improving their research output and visibility.

For further information about TCC Africa and its initiatives, please visit https://www.tcc-africa.org.

Contact:
Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa)
Email: info@tcc-africa.org