Asst. Prof. Myra Oruga, Chair of FMDS-REC and D/MIH Programs, facilitates Ethics Committee’s 2^nd workshop
in preparation for the UPOU-IRB accreditation to DOST-PHREB

The UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies-Research Ethics Committee (FMDS-REC) conducted its 2nd training workshop on 24-25 August 2017 in preparation for the University of the Philippines Open University’s Institutional Review Board (UPOU-IRB) accreditation to the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (DOST-PHREB).

In the first workshop conducted last November 2016, it was suggested to make the accreditation university-wide and not only for the FMDS. The creation of a fully-accredited IRB is in line with UPOU’s thrust to ensure that the research conducted by its students and academic staff protects the rights of its human participants, the research activities undertaken are ethically sound, and the research is done in a way that serves the interest of society as a whole.

During the two-day activity, a writing workshop was done for the finalization of the ethics’ Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual. The SOP manual was initially consolidated by Asst. Prof. Myra Oruga, Chair of the FMDS-REC and the Diploma in/Master of International Health (D/MIH) Programs; and Ms. Jelaine Bagos, Research Assistant of the D/MIH Programs, and was revised during the first write-shop. Among the topics discussed in the SOP manual are as follows: (1) Selection and appointment of Members; (2) Management of initial submissions and resubmissions; (3) Review of progress, final, and early termination reports and protocol amendments; (4) Expedited review; (5) Full review; (6) Preparing for a meeting; (7) Communicating REC decisions; (8) Managing active files; and (9) Archiving of terminated, inactive, or completed files.

As agreed in the workshop, a Round Table Discussion will follow on 23 October 2017 to finalize the organizational chart and additional policies and guidelines needed for the accreditation.

Present during the activity were Dr. Melinda Lumanta, UPOU Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and UPOU Research and Publication Committee (RPC) Chair; Asst. Prof. Oruga; Ms. Alvie Simonette Alip, UPOU RPC Member; Dr. Ricardo Bagarinao, Dean of the Faculty of Education (FEd); Dr. Sheila Bonito, FMDS-REC Vice Chair; Ms. Bettina Evio, FMDS-REC Member (External); Asst. Prof. Rita Ramos, FMDS Secretary to the Faculty; Asst. Prof. Queenie Ridulme, FMDS-RPC Member, FMDS-REC Member and MAN Program Chair; Ms. Bagos; and Ms. Louise Villanueva, Research Assistant at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA).