September 8, 2025 – The University of the Philippines Manila–National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH) and the Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and the Western Pacific (FERCAP), in partnership with the Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (EVHRDC), successfully concluded the first day of the three-day Online Training Workshop on Responsible Conduct of Research.
The morning session featured lectures on scientific integrity and good research practice, international and national ethical guidelines, and the roles of researchers, institutions, and advisers. In the afternoon, participants engaged in the workshop proper, which involved critiquing a case study to apply the concepts discussed.
The resource speakers included UPM-NIH Professor and Executive Director Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz, FERCAP Coordinator Dr. Cristina Torres, UP Manila Research Ethics Board Coordinator Professor Edlyn B. Jimenez, UP Manila Office of Research Integrity Director Dr. Jean Anne B. Toral and Professor 4 of UP College of Medicine Dr. Lia M. Palileo-Villanueva.
The workshop is designed to enhance participants’ knowledge of good research practices, deepen their awareness of ethical principles and scientific integrity, and clarify the roles of various stakeholders in research involving human participants, with practical applications reinforced through case studies. This activity is being attended by researchers from EVHRDC member institutions, serving not only as a capacity-building initiative but also as preparatory training for Institutional Ethics Review Committees (IERCs) members seeking accreditation from the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB). This initiative marks a significant step toward elevating the quality and credibility of health research in Eastern Visayas.
