Ethics- MUSERC

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Research Ethics Overview

About the Maseno University Scientific and Ethics Review Committee (MUSERC)

Maseno University has an Institutional Review Board (IRB) known as the Maseno University Scientific and Ethics Review Committee (MUSERC). The Committee received a certificate of accreditation (registration number 01412) from the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) in December 2012. MUSERC is mandated to review proposals/protocols in the fields of Biomedical, Social and Behavioural Sciences.

Mission Statement

To advance knowledge through ethical and policy-guided research that aligns with Maseno University’s Vision and Mission, upholding integrity, accountability, and the protection of human participants in accordance with national and international ethical standards.

Research Governance and Ethics Framework

Research studies/projects carried out at Maseno University, in accordance with the Maseno University Vision and Mission statements, are guided by the Maseno University Research Policy, which in turn informs the oversight of the policies and procedures underscored below.

Maseno University is guided by the ethical principles set forth in the report of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research (Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research [the ‘Belmont Report’]), for studies/projects involving human participants.

Establishment of the MUSERC

The Maseno University Scientific and Ethics Review Committee (MUSERC) was established by the Office of the Vice Chancellor, Maseno University and mandated to operate under the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor - Partnership, Research and Innovations (DVC-PRI). MUSERC office and secretariat are domiciled at the Directorate of Research, Publications and Innovations (DRPI).

Functions and Responsibilities

The mandate of MUSERC is to review and make informed decisions on all research protocols and/or applications that involve human participation. As such, it is the primary responsibility of MUSERC to protect human participants from undue risk and deprivation of personal rights and dignity. This protection is best assured by consideration of three principles of ethics, which are the touchstones of ethical research involving human participants, namely:

List of Functions

(a) That participation in any study involving human participants shall be voluntary, demonstrated by free and informed consent;

(b) That an appropriate balance exists between potential benefits of the research to participants or society and the risks assumed by the participants. Benefits of the study must outweigh the potential risks;

(c) That there are fair procedures and outcomes in the selection of Research Participants and the potential distribution of likely benefits, ensuring justice is applied.

Objectives

MUSERC is responsible for protecting the rights and welfare of human participants involved in any research studies/projects. As such, MUSERC shall review all research studies/projects involving human participation, conducted by the Maseno University academic community, students, staff, faculty and their collaborators and independent Scientists, both local and international.

Principal Investigators must submit, for ethical review, any research study/project involving human participants, regardless of the source of funding (or lack thereof) and/or location at which the research study/project shall be conducted in Kenya.

MUSERC shall determine that: (a) the rights and welfare of the research study/project participants are protected adequately, (b) the risks to participants are outweighed by the potential benefits of the research study/project, (c) the selection of participants is equitable, and (d) informed consent is obtained and documented appropriately.