Inter-Quarter NRCP Scientific Meeting on Ethics in Research co-hosted by URCO and SDRC

Lasting solutions are needed to address the Philippines’ social, educational, political and cultural problems more than the quick-fix efforts of its politicians.

This was cited as the theme behind the joint Ethics in Research Scientific Meeting jointly held by Division VIII of the National Research Council of the Philippines and De La Salle University by NCRP Division VIII Chair Dr. Leslie E. Bauzon in his opening remarks.

Held on November 8, 2017 at the Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall Multipurpose Room, the inter-quarter meeting of the NRCP Social Sciences Division was attended by representatives from the University of Santo Tomas, the University of the Philippines – Manila, University of the Philippines – Diliman, University of the Philippines – Los Baños, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Manila, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Batangas, University of the East – Recto, University of the East – Caloocan City, St. Paul University – Manila, Philippine Normal University, University of Asia and the Pacific, Trinity University of Asia, Northwestern University, University of St. Louis, Nueva Viscaya State University, Quirino State University, Central Luzon State University, St. Dominic College of Asia, Colegio San Juan de Letran, San Beda College, Harris Memorial College, Gordon College-Olongapo City, City College of Angeles, Marinduque State College, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council on Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), the National Security Council, Institute of Spiritiuality in Asia, Bukas Palad Foundation, and Green Research – Katipunan Avenue.

Four scientific presentations were delivered during the meeting: “Ethnologic Studies in Drug Discovery and Development in the Philippines: Ethnos, Ethos, and Pathos” by Dr. Isidro C. Sia, Professor of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the UP College of Medicine; “Ethics in Social Science Research Involving Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines” by Dr. Ma. Cecilia T. Medina, Assistant Professor of the UP Asian Center; “Regulating Health-Related Social Science Research: The National Ethics Guidelines” by Dr. Leonardo D. De Castro, Professor of the Department of Philosophy of the UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, and Chair of the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board; and “The Social Science Ethics Review Board: Organization and Procedures” by Dr. Amaryllis T. Torres, Professor Emeritus of the UP College of Social Work and Community Development and Executive Director of the Philippine Social Science Council.

The presentations were followed by an open forum moderated by DLSU Scientist-in-Residence and University Fellow Dr. Exaltacion E. Lamberte. Major issues discussed were the challenges involved in securing ethics approval by clinical boards for research studies; which bodies have jurisdiction over areas in which indigenous groups are studied; challenges in dealing with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples when conducting research studies; incorporating the teaching of the history of indigenous persons and the Muslim community into the high school and college curricula; the need for business studies in social enterprise;  and advocacy for patients and what are the post-trial obligations for those in the health sciences.

Recommendations for future action made in the meeting’s concluding activity were to invite speakers in Business Ethics, Ethics in Journalism and Mass Media, and other topics not covered during the meeting; to rid students of the notion of stereotypes of Muslims and indigenous peoples by including them in the school curriculum; to harmonize the regional health research networks to determine where proposals and studies should be submitted; to network with scholars in the natural sciences; to determine how to manage big data in terms of ethics; and to recruit scientists from other parts of the country to be part of NRCP so that research funding can be made available to the regions.

The NRCP Social Sciences Division Inter-Quarter Scientific Meeting on Ethics in Research was co-sponsored by the DLSU University Research Coordinating Office and Social Development Research Center.